Hyderabad: Owaisi Supports Calls for Increased Birth Rates in Southern States
AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi voiced his agreement with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu regarding the need for South Indians to have more children. Speaking on November 2, Owaisi highlighted that if he had made similar remarks, it would have been framed negatively by the media, potentially inciting accusations of “Population Jihad.”
Decline in Fertility Rates and Political Implications
Owaisi pointed out that the southern states have experienced a significant decline in their Total Fertility Rate (TFR), stating, “If delimitation is conducted based on population, South Indian states will face adverse effects, leading to reduced assembly and parliamentary seats.” He emphasized that rather than being rewarded for lowering population growth, these states are at risk of losing political representation.
The Hyderabad MP articulated the concerns of South Indians regarding their limited influence in national politics, questioning the fairness of further reducing their constituencies to favor regions with larger populations. “If the seats are further reduced to accommodate more seats for states with larger populations, how is that justified?” he asked.
Responses from Naidu and Stalin
Owaisi’s comments come on the heels of statements made by Naidu and Stalin. Naidu has announced plans for a “population management” initiative in Andhra Pradesh, which may include new legislation incentivizing families with more children. He suggested that only those with more than two children should be eligible to contest local body elections. Naidu noted that the fertility rate in southern states has dropped to 1.6, below the national average of 2.1, warning of an impending demographic shift towards an older population by 2047.
Similarly, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin echoed these sentiments, questioning the rationale behind restricting family size in light of the potential decrease in Lok Sabha constituencies. He provocatively stated, “Why should we restrict ourselves to having fewer children? Why shouldn’t we aim for 16 children?”
Addressing Media Bias
Owaisi reiterated that while Naidu and Stalin’s calls for increased birth rates are seen as reasonable, similar suggestions from him would be misrepresented. His comments reflect a broader concern about how political narratives are shaped and perceived in the media.
The discussions around population growth come in response to reports indicating that the BJP-led Union government may consider realigning constituencies based on population, which has heightened concerns among southern leaders about their political representation. As these debates unfold, the implications for demographic policies and political power dynamics in the region remain significant.
