JD(U) slams govt over census data on religion

The JD(U) has slammed the BJP government for releasing the census data on population of religious communities instead of caste data alleging it was an attempt to create “religious polarisation” ahead of the Bihar polls. “This effort of the government is nothing but an attempt of religious polarisation... The census was <g data-gr-id="9">demanded for</g> the welfare of people, not for the polarisation process,” said party general secretary KC Tyagi. He added: “JD(U) condemns the BJP government's attempts of religious polarisation as it is against the development process of the backward and weaker sections of the society and it will only disturb communal harmony of the national population.” According to the data, Muslims recorded a decadal growth rate of 24.6% between 2001 and 2011.