Bhilwara (Rajasthan): BJP may have distanced itself from party MP Sakshi Maharaj's remark that Hindu women should have four children, but VHP leader Sadhvi Prachi has come out in support of his view.
"Earlier we used to say 'hum do hamare do'. But now we have started saying that 'sher ka bachcha ek hi achha' (for a lion, one offspring is enough). This is wrong," Prachi, who was arrested in 2013 in connection with Muzaffarnagar riots for alleged hate speeches, said at a gathering here on Sunday.
"If there is one child, where all will you send him? To protect the border... or make him a scientist or he will take care of business.... So, we need four children. One can go to protect the borders, one can serve the society, give one to the saints and one to VHP to serve the nation and protect the culture. This is very important," she said.
The leader had contested the 2012 Assembly elections on BJP ticket from Purkazi constituency in UP. She was among around 40 persons accused of inciting riots through their provocative speeches in Muzaffarnagar and was later granted bail.
Demanding a law to ban forced conversions, Prachi supported the VHP's 'Ghar Wapsi' or reconversion programme.
"If a son is angry due to the some reason and leaves the house, should he not be allowed to return. Should the family not accept him?
"That's why 'Ghar Wapsi' should be supported," she said.
Her remarks came days after BJP MP Sakshi Maharaj drew criticism when he asked Hindu women to have at least four children, with the opposition accusing BJP of trying to polarise the atmosphere.
"We have accepted the slogan 'Hum do, hamara ek'. Now these traitors are not satisfied. They have given another slogan 'Hum do aur hamara.... They are advocating marriage of a girl to a girl, boy to another boy. This is what the last government did.
"This is why... I want to request women to give birth to at least four children. Give one to sadhus and ascetics. Media says there are ceasefire violations happening, so send another to the border," the saffron-clad MP from Unnao had said at a religious convention in Meerut.
BJP on its part had distanced itself from the remarks of Maharaj and urged its workers and public representatives to refrain from making such comments.
"It is his (Maharaj's) own view...his personal remark. it is not the stand of the party," BJP chief Amit Shah had said.
Speaking at the event yesterday, convener of the Bajrang Dal Rajesh Pandey said that his organisation was also focused on stopping "love jehad as its objective was to reduce the numbers of Hindus".
Ram temple construction, cow slaughter were among other issued discussed at the meet -- 'Virat Hindu Sammelan'.
