BJP MPs will introduce private member’s bills on population control and uniform civil code in the upcoming monsoon session of parliament, according to information from the secretariats of the two chambers.
The proposed legislations on population control and the uniform civil code, issues that usually trigger heated controversy in the country, are in line with the BJP’s ideological agenda.
BJP Lok Sabha MP from Uttar Pradesh Ravi Kishan and Rajya Sabha MP from Rajasthan Kirori Lal Meena are due to introduce the Population Control and Uniform Civil Code Private Members Bills respectively during the first ever week of the session which begins on July 19.
A bill introduced by an MP other than a minister is known as a private member’s bill and is unlikely to become law without the support of the government.
According to details available from the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha secretariats, Kishan and Meena will have the opportunity to present their respective private member’s bills on July 24, which was decided through the lottery system.
Notice for a similar population control bill was also given by BJP MP in Rajya Sabha Rakesh Sinha.
Proposed population control legislations focus on disincentivizing couples with more than two children, making them ineligible for government jobs and subsidies on various government-granted amenities and goods.
Asked about the bill, Sinha said the population growth has sounded “alarm bells” for the country and said a central law was “most needed” as it will be applicable across the country.
Uncontrolled population growth must be regulated, he said.
The move comes shortly after the Uttar Pradesh Law Commission posted a draft population control bill on its website, inviting public input until July 19.
It says people with more than two children in Uttar Pradesh will be banned from contesting polls by local bodies, applying for government jobs or receiving any type of grant.
Noting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a critical intervention in the debate on the issue during his August 15 speech, Sinha said Modi called for a balance between resources and people.
Discourse on the issue should not be viewed through the lens of caste and religion, Sinha said.
According to PRS Legislative, no private member’s bill has been passed by Parliament since 1970. A total of 14 such bills have received parliamentary approval.
(Only the title and image of this report may have been edited by Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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