RSS Leader Sunil Ambekar Calls for Scrutiny of Population Policies and Marriage Laws

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh national publicity in-charge Sunil Ambekar said that post-Independence marriage laws allowed certain communities to have multiple spouses while penalizing Hindus, which led to demographic imbalances. Speaking on Tuesday, September 28, 2026, at the Indira Gandhi Centre for Arts during the launch of the book Secularvaad aur Badalti Jansankhya ke Aankde, he stated that population consequences should have been considered when framing such laws. He argued that laws should apply equally to everyone instead of granting legal exemptions to one group while punishing another for the same conduct. His remarks followed Home Minister Amit Shah's announcement that the BJP-led NDA will implement a Uniform Civil Code in 21 States by 2029 to ensure equal rights and justice. Mr. Ambekar also blamed the minority education system established after independence for creating disparities, claiming it makes certain sections feel they must attend those specific institutions and acts as a route for religious conversions in states like Kerala. He criticized panchayat rules that disqualified individuals with more than a set number of children from contesting elections, noting the rule was not applied evenly. India lacked a concrete population policy after Independence, he added, noting the first population commission was set up in 2000 under the Vajpayee government. Supporting the National Register of Citizens and the Citizenship Amendment Act, the RSS leader said they are needed to find illegal entrants and grant citizenship to persecuted minorities from neighboring countries. He urged the audience to look at demographic imbalance after removing secular and communal lenses.

Context

Demographic shifts and uniform civil laws are subjects of ongoing policy debate in India concerning national integration and legal equality. Discussions around population control measures and citizenship verification often intersect with broader political debates on minority rights and state legislation.