Is the Centre’s Intent Unclear? JMM Questions Census Notification

Ranchi, June 16 (NationPress) The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) has expressed serious concerns regarding the census notification released by the Central government on Monday, raising questions about its intent and transparency.

During a press conference at the party’s central office, JMM General Secretary and spokesperson Supriyo Bhattacharya stated that although the notification has emerged after an extensive delay, the government has not clarified the format and methodology for the census.

"Without a clearly defined format, there are increasing fears of a political conspiracy underpinning this initiative," he remarked.

Bhattacharya further criticized the decision to conduct the entire census process digitally, alleging that this opens the door for potential manipulation.

"The risk of data being manipulated or misused is significant. Given that data will be entered through digital devices by field personnel, there exists the potential for manipulation at multiple levels. Furthermore, data uploaded to the Internet is vulnerable to hacking," he cautioned.

He questioned the government’s failure to release the census format along with the notification, stating, "This raises serious concerns regarding the government’s true intentions."

Additionally, he expressed skepticism about the proposed timeline for completing the census prior to the 2029 general elections.

"The process is set to commence on March 1, 2027, across most states, with completion expected by December 2028. Considering the scale and complexity of the operation, this timeline appears highly unrealistic," he commented.

The JMM leader also connected the census to the postponement of the Women’s Reservation Bill, officially known as the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, which is to be enacted after the next delimitation exercise, following the 2029 elections.

"With this notification, it seems the government is positioning itself to postpone the implementation of the Women's Reservation law by an additional five years," he alleged.

Bhattacharya urged the government to ensure transparency throughout the census process by publicly releasing the detailed format and specifying data security protocols.

"Unless the government guarantees complete transparency, this initiative will appear to be nothing more than a political ploy," he added.

The Centre officially issued the notification for conducting the population census in the nation on Monday.

The census, which will involve extensive data collection, including caste details, will proceed in two phases.

The first phase will target the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, along with two hilly states—Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand—starting on October 1, 2026. The second phase will commence on March 1, 2027.