Ranchi, June 16: Slamming the Union government, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) spokesperson Supriyo Bhattacharya on Monday alleged that the census schedule is a deliberate political move aimed at delaying the implementation of the Women’s Reservation Act.
Addressing a press conference, Bhattacharya referred to the Ministry of Home Affairs notification stating that the census will begin in Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand from October 1, 2026, and in the rest of the country from March 1, 2027. He claimed that the timing makes it impossible to complete both the census and delimitation before the 2029 general elections, thereby deferring the promised 33% reservation for women in elected bodies under the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam 2023.
“This is either a political experiment or a calculated move,” Bhattacharya said, pointing to the Prime Minister and Home Minister’s style of functioning. “Once again, the government is offering promises to women and pulling the plate away at the last minute.”
He emphasized that the upcoming census will be entirely digital, which raises serious concerns about data transparency and public verification. Bhattacharya questioned whether citizens would be able to verify the demographic and caste-based data collected under the new format, warning that it could open the door to “population hacking.”
Highlighting the lack of clarity around the questionnaire and process, he asked, “If the data is collected digitally, how will I know what was recorded against my name? Will I be allowed to verify it?” He also raised doubts about linking census data to Aadhaar, given the known discrepancies in the Aadhaar database.
Bhattacharya also took a dig at the BJP for its history of unfulfilled promises, including the claim of providing two crore jobs annually. “This is yet another betrayal of public trust,” he said.
He further criticised the BJP’s political culture, accusing it of using allies when convenient and discarding them later. Referring to past political events, he said the BJP had a history of extending fake invitations and removing the “plate” after guests arrived — a metaphor for insincere political alliances.
On alliance politics, Bhattacharya made it clear that JMM remains committed to the INDIA bloc but warned that respect and coordination within the alliance must be mutual. “We fought the last election together. The Congress and RJD must honour coalition dharma in Bihar and Jharkhand,” he said, while asserting that JMM is prepared to contest independently if necessary.
He also dismissed speculation about recent meetings between JD(U) leaders and Chief Minister Hemant Soren, stating that such interactions are being unnecessarily politicized. “People in politics do meet, but don’t drag every meeting into the BJP’s conspiracy narrative,” he added.
Bhattacharya concluded by reaffirming JMM’s stand against any attempt to delay social justice initiatives under the guise of administrative processes, calling the new census schedule “deeply misleading and politically suspicious.”
