Pinarayi criticizes the composition of the panel of the Center for the Study of Demographic Change

Pinarayi Vijayan Photo Credit: Nirmal Harindran

Leader of the Opposition in Kerala Pinarayi Vijayan alleged that the high-level committee to “study demographic changes due to illegal immigration and other abnormal reasons”, set up by the Union Home Ministry under the guise of national security, is a political move aimed at undermining the country’s census process and creating communal polarization among the public.

In a statement, Mr. Vijayan said the committee’s framework is based on the content of political speeches by people including Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat. He stated that the committee should be seen as a continuation of the Citizenship Amendment Act and the National Register of Citizens.

A veteran Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)) accused the Center of deliberately delaying the census, which has to be conducted at regular intervals, for political reasons. He said the appointment of the committee was aimed at promoting the politics of hatred of the Sangh Parivar. The move, which is said to target border districts and metropolitan cities without waiting for official census data, is aimed at creating fear and division among the people, he said.

Mr Vijayan added that the central government and the Election Commission of India had attempted to carry out citizenship verification as part of a special intensive revision of electoral rolls.

“Similarly, a committee has been appointed to look into demographic changes based on religion in selected regions even before the census is conducted. The move has raised concerns among minority communities,” he said.

Recalling that the previous Left Democratic Front (LDF) government had assured that the National Population Register would not be introduced in Kerala as part of the census, Mr. Vijayan urged the United Democratic Front (UDF) government to continue with similar vigilance against such efforts.

Published – 16 Jun 2026 20:52 IST