UP minister stokes row with population remark after 5 killed in house collapse

Lucknow ( The Indian View team) : A controversy has erupted over apparently insensitive remarks made by Uttar Pradesh minister Kapil Dev Agarwal after he linked a fatal house collapse in Muzaffarnagar to concerns over population growth. His comments came after a mud house in the district caved in amid heavy rainfall.

A 52-year-old man and his four children were killed in the incident, which took place on Sunday. Those who lost their lives have been identified as Islamuddin and four of his children – eight-month-old Zeeshan, two-year-old Ahad, five-year-old Alshifa, and 12-year-old Rukhsar.

Two other children from the same family sustained serious injuries and are undergoing treatment at the hospital. While visiting the survivors at the hospital, Agarwal spoke to the media and said, "The population is increasing. People get permanent houses, and then another new family is formed. Now they have nine children, so the government also has its limitations."