A day after Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu announced cash incentives to families having a third or fourth child, Congress leader Husain Dalwai slammed the strategy of seeking population growth to boost political heft.

“They should instead seek better representation. They are now scared that when their population is under control, they will get less representation as compared to the northern States like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. But this is the wrong approach. Today, even Muslims follow family planning. The spread of health and education has led to more awareness,” Mr. Dalwai told The Hindu.

Overpopulated nation

The former Rajya Sabha MP noted that India was already an overpopulated country. “One should give incentives to those who have fewer children. Wherever there is development, the spread of education, there is a lower birth rate. Then why is he announcing incentives for population growth? I understand the fear of the southern States. But the fear of loss of representation should not lead to this step,” he said.

When India became independent, its population was 30 crore, Mr. Dalwai said. “It is now 150 crore. Family planning was the Congress’ decision. In the southern States, there is more education, more health infrastructure. The weightage of representation should be decided on different grounds now. Just because Uttar Pradesh and Bihar did not give education, did not make available family planning measures, does not mean they should get more representation. This is unfair to the southern States,” he said.

On Saturday (May 16, 2026), Mr. Naidu announced financial incentives of ₹30,000 for the birth of a third child and ₹40,000 for a fourth child, in a bid to reverse his State’s declining population trend.