New Delhi: Union minister Giriraj Singh on Friday likened India's burgeoning population to "second-stage cancer" and called for stringent legislation to control it, saying that it will advance to the fourth stage and become incurable if not controlled.
Speaking at a seminar on population control here, Singh said that it is necessary to enact a stringent law and those who breach it should face punishments like revocation of their voting rights and economic curbs irrespective of their religions.
He said those opposed to measures for controlling population bring religion into the debate.
The minister also claimed that India's population stands at "150 crore, contrary to 130 crore as stated by various agencies."
Singh cited reports to claim that the fertility rate among women from the minority community is much higher than those from the majority. Isn't this true that social harmony has worsened wherever the population of the majority community has declined? he asked.
He stressed upon the need to have a population control law in order to maintain "communal harmony" in the country.
While making exhortations that population control bill should not be linked to religion, he said that communal harmony will take a serious hit if population control law does not get enacted in the country.
Singh said that a people's movement is needed to push for legislation on population control, adding that he will undertake such a yatra, which will be held from Meerut to Delhi, during October 11-13.
