The government of Jharkhand is the latest to pass a resolution against the National Population Register (NPR) demanding that it be conducted as per the previous 2010 format. It has also asked the central government to scrap the National Register of Citizens (NRC). The resolution was passed via voice vote.
The 2010 NPR had fewer questions and did not require information on the place of birth of one’s parents. It also did not ask for mobile number, passport number or Aadhaar number. Several privacy concerns have been raised about this. While Delhi, Bihar, Punjab, Kerala and West Bengal and many other states have passed similar resolutions, there is a concern about conducting the exercise amidst the Covid-19 pandemic even among states that have not passed a resolution against NPR or NRC. However, no official announcement has been made against scrapping the exercise or postponing it so far.
Meanwhile in Tamil Nadu AIADMK head honchos, Chief Minister and party co-coordinator, Edappadi K. Palaniswami and Deputy Chief Minister and party coordinator, O. Panneerselvam have requested the central government not to include too many personal questions in the NPR. Addressing a joint press conference, the duo, often called EPS and OPS, said, “Details regarding mother tongue, family head’s father, mother, their place of birth, date of birth and details like that, mobile phone numbers, Aadhaar details, voter ID and driving licence details should be avoided in the 2020 census.”
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Delhi Assembly passes resolution against NPR
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Bihar: Remove new questions; update NPR as per 2010 data