Senior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Ajit Pawar has said that people who go on to have more than two children should not be given any concessions, and even legislators in such cases should be made ineligible to contest elections.
India has surpassed China in terms of population growth, Mr Pawar said while speaking at an event in Baramati on Sunday.
"My grandfather used to tell me that when we got independence, our population was 35 crore and now it has reached 142 crore, and for that, we are all responsible," the Leader of Opposition in the state legislative Assembly said.
Ajit Pawar said that in an interview two days ago, he had asserted that all political parties should take this issue seriously.
"Everyone should stop after having one or two children for the betterment of our country, state, district, and region," he said.
He further said that henceforth, no concessions should be given to people who have more than two children.
"When Vilasrao Deshmukh was the chief minister, we were apprehensive while taking a decision that candidates aspiring to contest local body elections to gram panchayats, zilla parishads and taluka panchayats would be ineligible if they had three children," Mr Pawar said.
"People ask why a similar decision was not taken with regard to MPs and MLAs. I tell them it is not in our hands. It is in the hands of the Centre and it is our demand that the Centre should do it," he said.
People will become more aware and conscious about the issue if they are not given any concessions, the NCP leader said.
Featured Video Of The Day
Congress MLA Hiraman Bhika Khoskar Joins Ajit Pawar Faction Ahead Of Polls On Seat Sharing, Maharashtra's Ruling Alliance Nears Finishing Line: Sources Pawar vs Pawar Battle In Supreme Court Over Clock Symbol "War Can End Tomorrow If...": Netanyahu's Message After Killing Of Yahya Sinwar Drone Footage Of Hamas Chief Yahya Sinwar's Last Moments Released By Israel How Israeli Military Tracked And Killed Hamas Chief Yahya Sinwar In Gaza 5 Tripura Cops Arrested After Alleged Custodial Death Of Tribal Man Alarming Rise In AI-Produced Child Abuse Material, Warns Regulatory Body Sangh's Call For Collective Strength And United India Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.