Dehradun: Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Friday, April 4, hinted at introducing a population control law to prevent "infiltration" and safeguard the state's cultural values. This follows the state's pioneering implementation of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in January 2025, making it India's first to enact the law.
The BJP-led government aims to protect Uttarakhand's social and cultural foundations through such measures. "Our focus is to ensure that the state’s cultural values remain intact and that there is no infiltration," Dhami said. "After the historic implementation of the UCC, we are now discussing and deliberating on further legislative measures, including population control, to ensure the state’s sustainable growth."
The push gained traction during a recent Assembly session, where BJP MLA Shiv Arora called for the law. Several legislators backed the demand, spurring government consideration.
BJP state media in-charge Maanveer Chauhan clarified the move targets no specific community. "The intent is developmental – to reduce pressure on limited resources. We are consulting experts and stakeholders before taking a decision," he said.
Analysts view this as BJP's strategy to rally its core voters ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections.