The Hindu : National : Population has nothing to do with religion: Brinda Karat

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Nov 23, 2005

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Population has nothing to do with religion: Brinda Karat

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NEW DELHI: Communist Party of India (Marxist) Polit Bureau member Brinda Karat on Tuesday criticised Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh chief K.S. Sudarshan for his remarks on family planning norms.

Population was a development issue and had nothing to do with Hindus and Muslims. "Mr. Sudarshan has got it all wrong because the decision to plan a family is taken by husband and wife together, irrespective of caste and community," she said. "He [Mr. Sudarshan] has tried to associate the issue with religious communities."

According to Ms. Karat, his statement makes a Muslim woman appear a child-producing machine.

She was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a symposium on "Issues before Muslim women," organised by the All India Democratic Women's Association here. On the need to bring about reforms in the Sharia, Ms. Karat said things were moving in the right direction and more women were coming forward to seek changes in the Muslim laws for their benefit.

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