The Office of the Registrar General of India, which is responsible for the census, did not respond to a request for comment.
Critics of the main opposition Congress party and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have accused the government of delaying the census to hide data on politically sensitive issues such as unemployment ahead of national elections due in 2024.
Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera said, “This government has often displayed its open rivalry with data.” “On important matters like employment, Covid deaths, etc., we have seen how the Modi government has given priority to hiding important data.”
Gopal Krishna Agarwal, the national spokesperson of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, dismissed the criticism.
He said, “I want to know on what basis they are saying this. What is the social yardstick on the basis of which our performance in nine years is worse than their 65 years?” he said, referring to the Congress party’s years in power.