BJP MP Gajendra Singh Patel Urges Hindus to Marry Early, Have 5 Children, Cites Birth Rate
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national general secretary and Lok Sabha MP Gajendra Singh Patel has urged Hindu youth to marry early and have five children each, citing a widening gap in birth rates between communities.
BJP national general secretary and Lok Sabha MP Gajendra Singh Patel has urged Hindu youth to marry early and have five children, citing what he described as a difference in birth rates between Hindus and another community. Patel made the remarks at an event on Friday night, where he also spoke about demographic changes since Independence and the need to strengthen Hindu society, Hindustan Times reported.
Patel Links Delayed Marriage to Lower Birth Rate
Patel, who represents Madhya Pradesh's Khargone-Barwani constituency, said that young people are increasingly marrying in their 30s and having smaller families. He said the birth rate among Sanatanis was 1.9 and appealed to young people to marry earlier and have five children. Referring to previous generations, Patel said people used to marry in their early 20s and often had four, five, six or even seven children. BJP's Vijayendra Demands Withdrawal of Cases Against Workers over Voter List Objections.
Claims About Population Trends
Patel also made claims about changes in the population shares of different communities since Independence. He said the population graph of one community had declined while that of another had increased between 1947 and the 2011 Census. He further claimed that one community currently accounts for a birth rate of 1.9 compared with 2.9 for the other community.
He also claimed that among four children born today, one is from the Hindu community and three are from the other community. The figures cited by Patel were presented in the context of his argument about demographic changes. BJP to Hold Key Organisational Meeting of State In-charges, Co-in-charges Under Nitin Nabin Today.
Appeal for Community Support
Patel said "Sanatanis" should support one another during difficult circumstances instead of depending on political parties such as the BJP or Congress. He also called for greater promotion of gyms and traditional wrestling arenas, arguing that physical fitness could contribute to stronger families and society.
During the address, Patel also spoke about devotion, social strength and the possession of weapons.
‘3D’ Campaign Against DJ, Drugs and Dowry
The BJP leader also highlighted what he described as social concerns among young people through his "3D" campaign, referring to DJ, drugs and dowry. He claimed that a large proportion of young people dancing to DJs were Sanatanis and alleged that many were under the influence of intoxicants. Patel urged people to recognise these issues and work towards strengthening society and addressing substance abuse and dowry-related concerns.
Political and Social Context
Patel's remarks come amid recurring political debates in India over fertility rates, population growth and demographic change. Fertility rates have declined substantially across communities over the decades, while differences between religious groups have also narrowed over time.
Against this backdrop, Patel's call for Hindu families to have five children has drawn attention because it explicitly links family size and marriage age with community-level demographic concerns. The comments were made in a political and social gathering in Madhya Pradesh and represent Patel's views on demographic and social issues.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 04, 2026 12:03 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
