‘Everyone should write their religion as Hindu’ in upcoming census: VHP

New Delhi: Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) president Alok Kumar urged everyone to ‘register their religion as Hindu’ in the upcoming census alleging an attempt to ‘divide’ the Hindu society.

Alok Kumar issued the clarion call responding to demands from some sections of society such as Adivasis to include a separate religion code for them, according to The Hindu.

‘Certain sections from Lingayats in Karnataka, Sarnas in tribal areas and sections of Jatavs and in general amongst the SCs and STs are running campaign to establish them as apart of the Hindu fold. We want to ensure that such attempts to divide the Hindu society fail and we remain one,’ ‘Kumar reportedly said.

The census that the VHP leader has referred to will be conducted in two phases, after a gap of 15 years, with the first phase—House Listing and Housing Censuse—to be carried out between April and September 2026 with the second phase of Population Enumeration (PE) in February 2027.

Just as Hindus, Muslim, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist, and Jain remain as major six religions, 82 faiths in 2011 identified themselves as ‘Other Religions and Persuasions’ (ORP).

At Central Council meeting of the organisation in Delhi, Kumar called for defining the criteria for considering religious minorities.

‘A minority cannot be determined solely on the basis of population. It must also be considered whether followers of a particular religion have suffered any backwardness or oppression that warrants granting them special privileges,’ he reportedly said.

Kumar sought for implementing the Freedom of Religion Act throughout the country, adding that temples should be freed from government control and handed back to the Hindu community immediately.

Expressing concerns over the Red Fort blast he said that ‘Jihad’ is not solely driven by poverty or ignorance.

‘We must register that Jihad is now also driven by religious fanaticism. The investigation into the Red Fort attack proves that jihadists are coming from among the well-educated, high-earning individuals who hold respected positions in society. The mentality of jihad must be fought for the sake of world peace,’ he added.