MP BJP MLA Rameshwar Sharma links Muslim population rise to ‘tension’, pushes UCC
Synopsis
A BJP MLA from Bhopal has openly tied a rise in India's Muslim population to a ‘climate of tension’, using the claim to push for a Uniform Civil Code and a three-child cap in Madhya Pradesh — just 48 hours after CM Mohan Yadav signalled UCC was imminent in the state.
Key Takeaways
BJP MLA Rameshwar Sharma on 3 June linked a rising Muslim population to a ‘climate of tension and fear’ in society.
He pushed for a Uniform Civil Code and a cap of three children per family, with a ‘complete ban’ on those exceeding it.
Sharma invoked former PM Indira Gandhi's family planning stance to urge the Congress to back the move.
His remarks follow CM Mohan Yadav's 2 June announcement that UCC will be implemented in Madhya Pradesh ‘soon’.
Congress leaders in the state had not responded to Sharma's comments till Wednesday evening.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Rameshwar Sharma on Wednesday, 3 June, stirred a fresh political row in Bhopal, claiming that a rising Muslim population is reshaping the demographics of several regions and fuelling what he described as a ‘climate of tension and fear’ in society. The three-term MLA from the Huzur constituency linked his remarks to the demand for a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) and stricter population control measures in Madhya Pradesh.
What Sharma said
Speaking to reporters in Bhopal, Sharma alleged, ‘The demographics of several regions are undergoing a shift due to the rising population of Muslims. The growth in the population of people belonging to a specific religion is giving rise to a climate of tension and fear within society.’
He argued that a demand is gaining ground nationally that parents should not have more than three children. ‘A complete ban should be imposed on those who continue to have excessive numbers of children,’ he added.
The UCC pitch
Sharma tied the demographic argument directly to the BJP's push for a Uniform Civil Code in the state. ‘I would appeal to the Congress leaders in Madhya Pradesh to support the Bharatiya Janata Party in the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code,’ he said, accusing the Opposition of spreading misinformation on the issue.
Invoking former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, the MLA urged the Indian National Congress (Congress) to back the government, noting that Gandhi too had emphasised family planning during her tenure.
CM Yadav's UCC signal
Sharma's statement comes two days after Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav announced that the UCC would be implemented in the state ‘soon’. On Monday, Yadav said the government had begun gathering public feedback before finalising the proposal.
‘The current practice of following different personal laws regarding our sisters' weddings and family traditions based on religion is no longer necessary. We need a Uniform Civil Code in the state,’ Yadav said. The state is currently consulting legal experts and citizens before drafting the bill.
A pattern of remarks
Sharma has previously made several controversial statements targeting Muslims, and his latest comments fit a broader pattern of BJP leaders foregrounding demographic anxieties ahead of major legislative pushes. Uttarakhand remains the only state to have notified a UCC so far, with Gujarat and Assam also preparing drafts.
Congress silence so far
Congress leaders in Madhya Pradesh had not responded to Sharma's remarks till Wednesday evening. The Opposition has historically opposed both demographic framing of policy and a UCC rollout without wider stakeholder consultation, arguing that personal laws are protected under constitutional guarantees.
The next few weeks are likely to be critical, with the Yadav government expected to firm up the contours of the UCC draft even as the political temperature around demographic rhetoric rises.
Point of View
Dropped exactly when the Madhya Pradesh government is sounding out public opinion on UCC. By yoking a religious-demographic claim to a constitutional reform debate, the BJP risks reducing a complex legal question to a communal binary. Notably, the Census data Sharma alludes to has not been refreshed since 2011, which means the ‘shift’ he describes is asserted rather than evidenced. The real test for the Yadav government will be whether its UCC draft is debated on legal merits or remains hostage to the rhetoric being supplied by its own backbenchers.
NationPress
5 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did BJP MLA Rameshwar Sharma say about the Muslim population?
Sharma claimed on 3 June that a rising Muslim population is shifting the demographics of several regions and creating a ‘climate of tension and fear’. He linked the claim to a demand for a Uniform Civil Code and population control measures in Madhya Pradesh.
Why is the Uniform Civil Code being discussed in Madhya Pradesh now?
Chief Minister Mohan Yadav announced on 2 June that the state will implement a UCC ‘soon’ and has begun consultations with legal experts and citizens. The state government is gathering public feedback before drafting the bill.
What population control measure did Sharma propose?
Sharma said parents should not have more than three children and called for a ‘complete ban’ on those who continue to have larger families. He invoked former PM Indira Gandhi's emphasis on family planning to urge the Congress to back the proposal.
Has the Congress responded to Sharma's remarks?
Congress leaders in Madhya Pradesh had not issued a response till Wednesday evening. The party has historically opposed framing demographic data along religious lines and has questioned UCC rollouts without broader consultation.
Which Indian states have implemented a Uniform Civil Code so far?
Uttarakhand is currently the only Indian state to have notified a UCC. Gujarat and Assam are reportedly preparing drafts, and Madhya Pradesh has now signalled it intends to follow suit.
