Uttarakhand govt forms panel on population control

Days after the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) suggested that a population control policy be introduced in Uttarakhand on the lines of those in place in neighbouring Uttar Pradesh and Assam, the Pushkar Singh Dhami government on Saturday issued instructions for the setting up of a committee for the same. Chief secretary SS Sandhu will head the panel, sources reported.

As many as 35 affiliates of the Sangh called for ensuring a demographic balanceUttarakhand govt forms panel on population control in the hill states during a coordination meeting held recently. Claiming that there has been a substantial rise in Muslim population in areas like Dehradun, Haridwar, Udham Singh Nagar and Nainital over the years, the leaders sought appropriate measures in this regard. According to a report in The Indian Express, they also said there has been unauthorised development of religious sites belonging to the minorities and called for identification of such places.

The meeting held in Dehradun last Wednesday was attended by BJP national general secretary (organisation) BL Santhosh, state unit chief Madan Kaushik, and RSS joint general secretaries Dr Krishna Gopal and Arun Kumar. Kumar is also the Sangh's new BJP pointsperson.