Madhuram Sharan Shiva, leader of the armed monks’ group Shiv Shakti Akhada, speaking at a religious event reiterated demands for a “Hindu Rashtra,” urging Hindus to arm themselves with the weapons associated with the deities they worship. He called on followers to keep weapons in their temples, homes, and shops, claiming that “non-Hindus” are advancing rapidly in the country. He further urged Hindus to have more children, warning that only then would the country remain.