Mysuru: Congress leader in the Lok Sabha Mallikarjuna Kharge on Sunday said family planning or any other legislations were not responsible for the decline in population of Hindus, on contrary, it is the untouchability, discrimination and injustice within the religion are the culprits.

Addressing the gathering during the Platinum Jubilee celebrations of JSS Gurukula at Suttur, Kharge reacted strongly to RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s comments on declining Hindu population.

Kharge said, “A powerful person in the country had questioned that which law has asked Hindus to procreate fewer children. Who has stopped them?.”

“The growth rate of Hindu population is declining because of insecurity, inequality among the people of the religion. When the religion, which is made for the development of the people, fails to think about the welfare of the people, then obviously, people think why they should be a part of the religion,” he opined.

Kharge recalled the contributions and ideologies of the 12th Century social reformer Basavanna who aspired for casteless and classless society through his ‘Anubhava Mantapa’.

“While majority of the mutts are playing constructive role in the development of the society and country, divisive elements are endangering social fabric of the nation. People should decide which is good for the society, he added.

Suttur seer Shivarathri Deshikendra Swami, Art of Living guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Home Minister G Parameshwara, Sugar and Cooperation Minister H S Mahadev Prasad, former Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy and others were present.