The Hindu : National : V.P. Singh criticises `faulty' Census figures

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Sep 15, 2004

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V.P. Singh criticises `faulty' Census figures

By Our Staff Correspondent

NEW DELHI, SEPT. 14. The former Prime Minister, V.P. Singh, today criticised the Government for releasing faulty religion-wise data in its Census report.

"The Registrar-General of Census should not have released the report if it did not have the corresponding figures of the last census for Assam and Jammu and Kashmir or else it should have clarified that at the time of release," he said.

Mr. Singh was releasing a book, "Economic Empowerment of Muslims in India," by economist Abusaleh Shariff.

It was because of the inclusion of the religion Census for these two States that the Muslim population had shown an increase.

"In the ensuring controversy, everyone forgot the fact that the overall population growth was declining," Mr. Singh said.

An institutionalised and interactive dialogue between Hindus and Muslims, Mr. Singh said, could help resolve the differences between the two communities.

"The solution lies in discussing the things openly and not segregating the two communities. If we come out with the problems, solutions will be thrown up automatically."

Role for civil society

Mr. Singh said civil society had to play a pro-active role in countering the attempt to vitiate the atmosphere in the country. While the state had the responsibility of providing security and infrastructure to the people, civil society had to ensure a peaceful social environment.

"And, I am not only talking about Muslims only. My concern is for all deprived sections of society,'' Mr. Singh said.

Presiding over the function, the former Chief Justice of India, A.M. Ahmadi, said that lack of adequate share in growth, development and participation had made Muslims ask for reservation after 50 years of Independence.

"Obviously something had been done to this community to make it claim reservation," he said.

The demand for reservation came because roadblocks were put in the path of the progress of Muslims.

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