Pinarayi Vijayan Raises Alarms Over Census 2027’s Religion and Birthplace Queries

Pinarayi Vijayan, the Leader of the Opposition in Kerala, has expressed serious concerns regarding the questions included in the upcoming Census 2027, which reportedly inquire about the religion and birthplace of both parents. In a statement released on social media, Vijayan criticized the Union government, labeling these queries as “deeply troubling” and warning that they could serve as a covert mechanism to facilitate the National Population Register (NPR) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC).

According to Vijayan, the Census should not be a means to create divisions among citizens based on religion or origin. The NPR is intended to compile a list of all usual residents in India, while the NRC aims to identify Indian citizens and undocumented immigrants. However, there are widespread apprehensions that the NRC, especially when linked with the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), could disproportionately affect Muslim communities, forcing them to prove their citizenship.

Vijayan firmly stated that citizenship should not be determined by religious affiliation, asserting that the Census should instead focus on unifying the populace rather than sowing discord. He called upon secular groups and citizens alike to rally against what he perceives as a dangerous trend. The inclusion of such divisive questions in the Census could have far-reaching implications, he warned, potentially exacerbating societal tensions.

The concerns raised by Vijayan echo sentiments expressed by numerous civil society activists and political leaders across the country. Many fear that intertwining demographic data with personal identifiers such as religion and birthplace could lead to discriminatory practices and the exclusion of certain communities from essential civic processes.

As the Union government continues to promote the Census as a vital exercise for national development, critics urge a reevaluation of its methodologies. They advocate for a transparent and inclusive approach that respects the secular fabric of the nation. With elections on the horizon, the discourse surrounding the Census is set to intensify, particularly as various parties position themselves on issues of citizenship and identity.

Source: scroll.in