Siddiqullah's "population growth" comment draws sharp reactions from Suvendu Adhikari and Nawsad Siddiqui

West Bengal Minister Siddiqullah Chowdhury’s comment on population growth during a special session on Constitution Day has led to considerable debate. While speaking in the Legislative Assembly, Siddiqullah said, “You will say 'ham do, hamare do' (we have two, we want two), we will say 'ham do, hamra char' (we have two, we want four). This is democracy.” His statement was made in the context of emphasizing individual freedom in a democratic society, particularly in making decisions about family size.

The remark was immediately questioned by BJP MLA and Chief Whip Shankar Ghosh, who raised a point of order in the Assembly, asking whether Siddiqullah’s statement would be officially recorded. The Speaker of the Assembly responded that the matter would be reviewed. Following the session, Siddiqullah clarified his comments outside the House, stating that population growth was essential for India to compete with other countries like China. He argued that increasing the population was necessary for national development and strength.

Leader of the Opposition, Suvendu Adhikari, responded by calling for population control measures. Adhikari stated that controlling the population is critical for the country’s progress and emphasized that the central government should take steps to regulate population growth in the interest of national development. He also expressed concern about the potential impact of such remarks from a public representative.

ISF MLA Nawsad Siddique, on the other hand, pointed out that Muslim women in West Bengal have shown reluctance to have more children, attributing this to socio-economic factors rather than political or religious influences. Nawsad noted that this trend was driven by changing economic conditions, such as increased education and employment opportunities for women, which influenced family planning decisions. His remarks further added to the discussion on population dynamics in the region.