Scrap penal clauses from population control Bill: BJP MP

Members raise concerns during RS discussion

The Rajya Sabha on Friday discussed a private member Bill on population regulation moved by the Bharatiya Janata Party’s Rakesh Sinha.

During the discussion, another BJP member Vikas Mahatme sought the removal of penal clauses from the Bill stating that if a family was penalised for more than two children, then the third child would develop a feeling that “he is an unwanted child”. “This is a very dangerous thought for the nation. Therefore, I say we can do something else instead of penalising,” he said. Mr. Mahatme said though he supported the Bill, he felt it could encourage “sex selection” and would lead to female foeticide.