You have often heard politicians and religious leaders in India asking women to have more children for the sake of religion, society or maybe the country. But have you heard someone say something that’s the opposite?
Well, here is Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader from Madhya Pradesh who recently made a bizarre-yet-unique statement. While speaking at an event in his constituency Guna, Pannalal Shakya said that women should rather remain childless instead of giving birth to someone who isn’t a devotee, charitable or brave.
“It is my request, women should not give birth to sons and daughters who bring deformities to the society or spread vices,” he said, while quoting an old couplet. In a direct jibe at Congress and its slogan Garibi Hatao, he said that party came up with the slogan to remove poverty but instead wiped out the poor. He also said that women should look up Kaushalya as their role model because she gave birth to Lord Ram.
Congress came up with slogan of ‘Gharibi Hatao’ but instead wiped out the poor.There are women who give birth to such leaders. Women should rather remain infertile than produce kids who are not ‘sanskari’ & who deform society: Guna BJP MLA Pannalal Shakya (13.6.18) #MadhyaPradesh pic.twitter.com/6qhfV8LOyM
— ANI (@ANI) June 14, 2018
Shakya’s bizarre statement might have come as a shocker for many but for those who have heard about him before would know that this isn’t his first such statement.
In March, he came up with a ‘novel idea’ to stop atrocities against women and ensure their safety. While addressing college students in Guna, he said,”Why do girls make boyfriends? If they stop doing this, the atrocities against them will stop.” He, like many other politicians in India, also asked youngsters to shun western culture and embrace Indian philosophy.
He even had ‘serious issues’ with Virat Kohli-Anushka Sharma wedding that took place in December last year. He had then questioned the couple’s patriotism because of their decision to marry in Italy instead of India.
“Virat earned money in India… But he didn’t find any place to marry in the country. Is Hindustan untouchable? None of us goes to a foreign country to get married … (Kohli) earned money here and spent billions there (Italy)… (he) doesn’t have any respect for the country. This proves he is not a patriot,” he said.
(with inputs from ANI, PTI)
