Sena Targets Muslims After PM Modi’s ‘Population Explosion’ Speech

In its mouthpiece, Saamana, Sena targeted Muslims for the growing population in India after PM Modi’s I-Day speech.

Shiv Sena Chief Uddhav Thackeray (Left) and PM Modi (Right)

(Photo: Altered by The Quint)

Reacting to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Independence Day speech, where he emphasised the need to tackle population explosion in India, ally Shiv Sena targeted the Muslim community in its mouthpiece, Saamana on Friday, 16 August.

In the editorial, the Sena wrote, “There’s a big section of the society that is not concerned about the size of the family and population explosion, and its ill-effects,” reported Hindustan Times. It further reportedly added,

“Here, some fanatical Muslims are not ready to come out of the mindset of ‘Hum Do, Humare Pachhis’. In this scenario, even when the Prime Minister says that keeping a small family is nationalism, will the country’s Muslims learn from it?” 

While addressing reporters, Sena leader Sanjay Raut, who is also the Executive Editor of Saamna said, “Bal Thackeray always advocated need for population control. The NDA government under Modi is espousing the policies of the Shiv Sena,” reported Outlook.

During his I-Day speech, PM Modi had mentioned that India’s growing population could cause problems for future generations if left unaddressed. He also added that those who have adopted measures to keep a check on their family size are serving the nation in their own way.

The Opposition, however, criticised the PM’s speech. AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi called PM Modi’s ideas ‘intrusive’ in a tweet.

“Majority of India is young & productive, but this advantage will only last till 2040 @PMOIndia is clueless about what how to utilise this advantage, so he’s coming up with discarded & intrusive ideas of governance that shirk his own responsibility”