Hindutva hatemongers had a free run on Thursday as they sought for more curbs on India's Muslims, accusing them of conducting some kind of "population jihad" - an attack triggered by the recent Census report on religion - and even questioning their minority status.
In an article titled "Time to Act Before Too Late" published in Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) mouthpiece, Organiser, Vishwa Hindu Parishad working president Pravin Togadia said, "If Muslims give birth to more than two children, it should be made a punishable criminal offence and ration, jobs and educational facilities should be then stopped for them." Read more.
@ibnlive And Hindus with more kids rewarded? Togadia's demographic dividend?
— M K Venu (@mkvenu1) September 3, 2015
Wait a minute?? Wasn't Sakshi Maharaj who said 'Hindu Women Must Have At Least 4 Children' ??? https://t.co/ytnV8RC9LL
— Jumla ????? (@VAvinash) September 3, 2015
THIS SHOULD SCARE TOGADIA A LOT part-time teachers threaten to embrace Islam coz theyve not been paid http://t.co/F6S70wByEt via @TOILucknow
— harinder baweja (@shammybaweja) September 3, 2015
The education minister makes a presentation to RSS. Pravin Togadia decides how many children a Muslim family can have. #saffronterror
— Meena Kandasamy (@meenakandasamy) September 3, 2015
Muslims Having More Than Two Kids Should Be Criminalised: Togadia http://t.co/oqadj2dWgP Expect strategic Maun from otherwise voluble PM.
— SonaliRanade (@sonaliranade) September 3, 2015
Also read - Census of religion: Government sold it, media bought it
There is a famous quote on data which goes like this: "Statistics are like bikinis. What they reveal is suggestive, but what they conceal is vital."
As the government released the Census 2011 data on "Population by Religious Communities" on August 25, reading the headlines on the front page of various newspapers the next day, I couldn't help but notice the spin each newspaper tried to give, leaving no doubt in my mind on the timing of the release of the data. Read more.
Also read: Relax. Muslims are not outnumbering Hindus
Hindu population falls below 80 per cent for the first time, screamed many headlines as we were served with the recently released data on population by religious communities Census 2011. Most of the reports mentioned in the same line that Muslims are the only religious group whose share in the total population has increased. It has, by 0.8 per cent, while Hindus have registered a decline by 0.7 per cent.
This might give enough fodder to a Sadhvi Prachi or Sakshi Maharaj to urge all Hindus to go home and procreate, or to ask Muslims to go live in Pakistan. Read more.