No birth control for Hindus

For one ideologue, more Hindu children means more power over Muslims.

Published November 29, 2005 3:57PM (EST)

The Daily Telegraph has a story today about a Hindu ideologue who is urging Hindu women to get pregnant -- and often. Not because K.S. Sudarshan, leader of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh group, loves children. Rather, it's because he's threatened by Muslims.

Despite the fact that Hindus constitute 80 percent of India's population, many Indians fear that the Muslim population is growing faster than the Hindu population in some areas. The Telegraph quotes Sudarshan as saying, "Whenever new people come to me for blessings, I tell them, 'Not less than three [children].' The more ... the better." Thankfully, his words have been condemned by moderates, who have scolded Sudarshan for using "the politics of scare and silliness" to manipulate his fellow Hindus.


By Hillary Frey

Hillary Frey is the Books editor at Salon.

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