UP: Having children is 'God's grace', says minister on Dhirendra Shastri’s remark

Uttar Pradesh Minister of State for Transport Dayashankar Singh on Monday waded into the debate over population, terming the birth of children as Gods grace and noting that there are no restrictions on this in India. Can a regular worker of Akhilesh Yadavs party ever dream of becoming the chief minister in Uttar Pradesh Singh asked.

Uttar Pradesh Minister of State for Transport Dayashankar Singh on Monday waded into the debate over population, terming the birth of children as ''God's grace'' and noting that there are no restrictions on this in India. The remarks by the minister came in response to a query regarding a recent statement by a self-styled godman, Dhirendra Shastri, suggesting that Hindus should have four children. ''There is no restriction on anyone in India. This is God's grace. Some have five children, while some have none at all,'' Singh told reporters after attending a 'Mahila Jan Akrosh Abhiyan' programme at the district headquarters. Launching a scathing attack on Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav, Singh compared his aspirations to ''Mungeri Lal ke haseen sapne'' (beautiful dreams of Mungeri Lal), asserting that the party would never return to power. ''The 2012 elections were fought under the leadership of Netaji Mulayam Singh Yadav, who then installed him (Akhilesh) as the chief minister. Since then, they have been losing consistently,'' the BJP leader said. Taking a swipe at the SP's 'PDA' (Pichhda, Dalit, Alpsankhyak) formula, Singh redefined the acronym to mean ''Parivar Development Authority'' (Family Development Authority). ''For them, PDA means only family members and no one else. If he is a well-wisher of the PDA, he should decide that a common person from these communities will be the national president of his party. Only then will people believe him,'' Singh said. Contrasting the SP with the BJP, the minister said that in the saffron party, ordinary individuals can rise to become the Prime Minister, Chief Minister, or President. ''The BJP has made Mohan Yadav, who comes from the same community, the chief minister in Madhya Pradesh. Can a regular worker of Akhilesh Yadav's party ever dream of becoming the chief minister in Uttar Pradesh?'' Singh asked.