Kerala Leader of the Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan has criticized the Census 2027 questionnaire for seeking religious details of parents, warning it is a disguised attempt to implement the NPR.

  • The 2027 Census reportedly includes queries on parents' religion and place of birth.
  • Pinarayi Vijayan alleges the Center is merging Census activities with the National Population Register (NPR).
  • The opposition warns against linking religious identity with citizenship rights.

In a stinging critique of the upcoming Census 2027, Kerala's Leader of the Opposition, Pinarayi Vijayan, has raised alarms over the proposed questionnaire. The veteran leader claims the document seeks sensitive information regarding the religion and place of birth of both parents, which he views as a strategic move to integrate the National Population Register (NPR) into the census process.

Expressing his concerns via a Facebook post, Vijayan asserted that any policy attempting to link religious identity with citizenship is fundamentally unacceptable in a secular democracy. He pointed out that while the Census and NPR are technically distinct, the Union Government's intentions appear to be blurring these lines. He cited a 2018-19 Home Ministry report which suggested that the National Register of Citizens (NRC) is prepared by filtering data from the NPR.

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Why This Matters

BozokMedia analysis shows that this controversy touches the very core of India's constitutional identity. The intersection of demographic enumeration and citizenship verification has become a flashpoint in Indian politics, raising significant concerns about privacy, surveillance, and the potential targeting of specific socio-religious groups.

Linking religious demographics to citizenship verification poses a significant threat to the secular fabric of the nation.

Vijayan further criticized the current UDF government in Kerala for its perceived silence on the matter. He alleged that the Congress party's hesitation stems from its own historical involvement, noting that while the Vajpayee government introduced the framework, the UPA government was the first to implement the NPR in 2010. He urged secular sections of society to stand united against what he termed as the 'sinister queries' of the Sangh Parivar.

Historical Background: The debate over NPR and NRC has intensified since the introduction of the Citizenship Amendment Act. Historically, the Census has been a tool for resource allocation and planning, but the addition of identity-verifying components has transformed it into a highly contested political instrument.

Did You Know?: The Census in India is one of the largest administrative exercises in the world, involving millions of enumerators and covering over a billion people.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the main concern regarding the 2027 Census?
The primary concern is the inclusion of questions about parents' religion and birthplace, which critics say facilitates the implementation of the NRC.

2. How does Vijayan link NPR to the Census?
He claims the Center is using the census as a preparatory step to collect data for the National Population Register.