NEW DELHI – India’s federal cabinet approved funds on Tuesday for a census and population survey to be conducted next year, amid fears the database could be used to build a controversial citizens register, against which there have been widespread protests.
Hundreds of thousands of Indians have taken to the streets to protest against a new citizenship law enacted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi that provides non-Muslim minorities from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan who moved here before 2015 a pathway to Indian citizenship.
Some of these protests have led to clashes between the police and demonstrators in which at least 21 people were killed.
The government approved 87.54-billion rupees ($1.23 billion) for conducting the census and 39.41-billion rupees for updating the National Population Register, said Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar.
The census and population survey will start from April next year.(Reuters)
