In no mood for control STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE Chandigarh, 19 March Sparking a debate in the Sikh community, a high priest of Sikh’s temporal seat the Akal Takht has called upon Sikh couples to have four children instead of two as promoted by the government for population control. In his message delivered at Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib in Anandpur Sahib upon the conclusion of six-day Hola Mohalla on Monday, the jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh said Sikhs have been following the government slogan ‘hum do hamare do’ which encouraged only two children for each couple, but as a result of this the population of community has gone down heavily. “It is making an adverse impact on the progress of Sikh community, the state and the country,” he said adding that it was time to shun the slogan ‘hum do hamare do’ and adopt the slogan ‘hum do hamare chaar’. The Jathedar said such an approach will benefit the Sikh community, the state and the country. His call has, however, not gone well with the Sikh scholars . Renowned philosopher Mr Iqbal Singh Lalpura said the choice should be left to Sikhs couples. “The Jathedar must have had some thought behind his message. However, the sixteenth century conditions cannot be equated with the modern era,” he said. Last month, Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Mr Ashok Singhal had said Hindu couples should “produce at least five children” because the Hindu population was growing at a much slower rate than that of Christians and Muslims. If the Hindus don’t produce five children per couple, he warned that they would be reduced to a minority India.
Posted on: Thu, 20 Mar 2014 19:49:27 +0000
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