IN A STATE OF FLUX

While support for socio-political reforms remains robust, concerns about democracy, religious polarisation and women's safety indicate persistent disquiet

- AMARNATH K. MENON

The concept of 'Hum Do, Hamare Do', which symbolised planned parenthood and was once central to development initiatives, now appears to be under scrutiny. The latest India Today Mood of the Nation (MOTN) poll reveals that a majority-56.5 per cent of the respondents agree with Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat's call for families to have three children to prevent a population decline. Notably, that support is highest among those with lower education levels, with 63 per cent endorsing the idea. Regional variations are evident, with as many as 50 per cent of the respondents from the East opposing the proposition.

Bhagwat's call for an end to temple-mosque disputes finds significant backing too, with 67 per cent supporting it. But the survey also highlights strong support-57.9 per cent-for litigations asserting that mosques were historically built over temples. At the same time, opinions are evenly split on whether existing religious structures should be dismantled if courts confirm such claims, with 38 per cent on each side. Further polarising the debate is the government's proposal to reclaim land owned by Waqf boards. While 56 per cent of the Muslim respondents oppose the move, it finds the highest support-78 per cent-among Other Backward Classes (OBCs).