New Delhi: The Congress asked sarcastically on Wednesday whether “Ab ki baar, bacche chhar” will be the BJP’s slogan for the next election, and why Prime Minister Narendra Modi was silent after BJP MP Sakshi Maharaj’s remark that Hindu women ought to have at least four children.

Sakshi Maharaj, MP from Unnao, said this at a religious convention in Meerut on Tuesday.

Read | All Hindu women must have at least 4 children: BJP MP Sakshi Maharaj

The media quoted him as saying: “The concept of four wives and 40 children will not work in India... The time has come when a Hindu woman must produce at least four children in order to protect the Hindu religion.”

Congress spokesman Abhishek Singhvi asked: “Is India’s population policy being changed? Why has the PM been silent for 24 hours? Why has the home minister, party president, finance minister been silent?” Mr Singhvi then added: “Is this the new population policy? The nation wants an answer. (But) we are confident that no answer will come.”

Other Opposition leaders also condemned these remarks, alleging the BJP was trying to polarise the atmosphere.

The BJP, however, distanced itself from Sakshi Majaraj’s comments and urged its workers and representatives to refrain from such comments.

“The remarks by Sakshi Maharaj are personal, the party has nothing to do with it,” said BJP national secretary Shrikant Sharma.

Sakshi Maharaj had earlier praised Nathuram Godse.