RSS chief calls for NRC, population policy alleging rise in Muslim population

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Friday called for implementation of a population policy and National Register of Citizens (NRC), alleging that the growing number of Muslims and Christians is creating a “population imbalance” in India.

Speaking at the annual Vijayadashmani event held in Nagpur, he reiterated the 2015 resolution of RSS Akhil Bhartiya Karyakari Mandal (ABKM). This resolution says the share of religions of “Bharatiya origin” — including Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism and excluding Islam and Christianity — came down to 83.8 per cent in 2011 census from 88 per cent in 1951 while the Muslim population increased to 14.23 per cent from 9.8 per cent during that period.

The rate of growth of Muslim population has been very high than the national average in the border states of Assam Bangladesh and Bihar. It clearly indicates the unabated infiltration from Bangladesh, the resolution had said.

Bhagwat added that religions like Islam and Christianity came through invasion, and Jews and Parsis came to India seeking refuge

Referring to Muslims, he said they can follow patriots like quartermaster Abdul Hamid or Hasan Khan Mewati who fought Babur alongside Rana Sanga.

Bhagwat, who did not read out the entire resolution, also advocated the need of implementing the national register of citizenship (NRC). “The NRC is however not meant for those people who have been living in India as citizens since generations,” he said.

Opposition leaders – AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi, BSP spokesperson Sudhindra Bhadoria, CPIM politburo member Brinda Karat etc. – have condemned the allegations made by Bhagwat.