Congress party criticizes India's demographic panel over religion-wise data requests

The Congress party has criticized the Modi government regarding a Home Ministry-led High-Level Committee on Demographic Changes. The opposition alleges the panel has a ‘patently diabolical agenda’ due to its request for religion-wise data spanning the last 15 years.

According to reports, the committee has sought religious data concerning birth and vehicle registrations, school enrollments, and property transactions. It has also requested district-level details on religious structures, intelligence assessments on religious conversions among Scheduled Tribe communities, and information regarding operational detention centers. Additionally, the panel is looking into unusual increases in Aadhaar, voter ID, and ration card registrations.

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh stated that the committee appears to have ‘pre-conceived biases’ and suggested its report may already be prepared. Reports indicate that state governments are struggling to fulfill the committee's queries because government departments do not typically maintain such specific religious data.