New Delhi: BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party)-ruled Gujarat is bringing forward a bill in the coming session of the State legislature to ban those with more than two children from contesting polls as part of population control measures, Chief Minister Narendra Modi said today (Nov 19, 2004).

Modi, who had created a controversy sometime back over his reported remarks implying that population growth was more among minorities, said that he was of the considered view that unless population was controlled, no development was possible.

Interacting with the media at the IITF (India International Trade Fair), he did not specify on which elections the measure would be applied. Gujarat has already set up a Commission on the issue, which has recommended several incentives and disincentives to promote small family norm, he said.

At the press conference called as part of the 'Gujarat day' celebrations at international trade fair in New Delhi, he steered clear of all politically controversial issues, including suspended BJP leader Uma Bharti, the second-line leadership in BJP and Nasibullah Shaikh, a witness in the Best Bakery case, turning hostile like his sister Zaheera.

"I will answer these questions when I will visit 11, Ashoka Road (BJP headquarters) which is a better place for this," Modi said in reply to such questions.

Asked why the judiciary in Gujarat has been a subject matter of controversy and under attack of late, Modi skirted the query saying the question does not come under his limits of operation as per the Constitution.

Modi described Gujarat as the "growth engine of India" as the State has registered a 15 per cent growth last year as against around eight per cent at the national level.