Hindus Must Have More Children To Stop India From Becoming Islamic Country, Says Priest Out On Bail

Yati Satyadevanand Saraswati, the in-charge of Himachal Pradesh Akhil Bharatiya Sant Parishad, on Sunday, said that Hindus should give birth to more children in order to protect their families, humanity and Sanatan Dharma. He made this hate speech during a meeting at Una in Himachal Pradesh.

He said, "The increasing population of Muslims in the country indicates the decline of the Hindus...Hindus should strengthen their families, they should give birth to more children to protect their families, humanity and Sanatan Dharam.". While making unverified comments on population growth and demeaning women, he also said that the Hindu society is on the verge of decline.

Publicly flouting the rules of his bail, Yati Narisghanand, who had earlier made a hate speech in December and is out on bail a few weeks ago, talked about the pilgrimage to Amarnath and Mata Vaishno Devi. He allegedly said that the people were pelted with stones by the Muslim community.

Suggested Reading: Yati Narsinghanand Arrested For Dharam Sansad Hate Speech Case

Yati Satyadevanand Saraswati: Another Hate Speech

The meeting was attended by Saraswati, Narsinghanand, Annpurna Bharti, amongst other priests across the country. The Himachal Pradesh Police had sent notice to Satyadevanand, instructing him not to use instigating language against any religion or caste. The notice was issued under section 64 of the Police Act of 2007. Reportedly, the chief of Amb police station in Una district had said that legal actions will be taken if the individual did not adhere to instructions.

Saraswati was also asked if his advice will go against the two children policy, to which he said that there exists no law like that. Alongside him, in the event, Narisinghanand was also present. Narisinghanand has a history of making crass comments against women and against minority communities. During the Haridwar gathering, had said that women who produce one child are naagin (serpent).

These comments by men who are not one but multiple time offenders make a one question the system under which they get easy outs and more power to speak out the hate and misogyny stuffed sentences. This incident does come as a surprise because another priest from the same organisation had the audacity to make a similar comment on childbirth and Muslims. But at the same time, it is not shocking.

Xenophobic mindsets have used women's wombs as a weapon. It is at the same time patriarchal in nature because the womb has always been treated as something owned by men.

Speeches like this should be condemned and women need to understand that this speech is not just against Muslims, a hate speech, but is equally against women of both religious sides, a misogynistic speech. A womb is not a machine that it will produce when the order is punched. It belongs to a human, a person and someone who can make their own decisions on how many kids they want or do not want.

Views expressed are author's own.