Congress hits demography panel over religion-based data request
In short
Congress has attacked the Modi government's demography committee over a request for religion-based data from the past 15 years. The summary says the panel asked for many social details, and states are having trouble providing them.
The issue matters because it could affect how the government looks at population changes and social policy. It is still not clear exactly which data fields were asked for or how they will be used.
What the reporting says
Congress criticized the Modi government's High-Level Committee on Demographic Changes after it sought religion-based data for the past 15 years on multiple social indicators. The request reportedly has state governments struggling to supply the information, according to the available summary. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh called the panel's agenda diabolical and biased. What exact datasets were requested and how the government will use them were not stated.
Why it matters
Congress is reacting to the Modi government's High-Level Committee on Demographic Changes after reports that it asked for extensive religion-wise data from the last 15 years. The summary says state governments are having difficulty providing the information. Jairam Ramesh described the agenda as diabolical and biased. The immediate impact is political controversy around the panel; the exact scope and purpose of the data request are not stated.