NEW DELHI, (PTI): Population growth rates are not linked to religion and the Total Fertility Rate (TFR) among all religious groups is declining, with the highest decrease observed among Muslims, NGO Population Foundation of India has said amid a debate over the increase in the population of minorities in India.

According to a recent working paper compiled by the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM), the share of the Hindu population decreased by 7.82 per cent between 1950 and 2015 in India, while that of Muslims increased by 43.15 per cent, suggesting that there is a conducive environment in the country to foster diversity.

The study led to a slugfest among political parties, with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) alleging that the ”appeasement politics” of the Congress led to the increase in the population of Muslims in the country.

In a statement, the Population Foundation of India said it is deeply concerned about recent media reports ”misreporting” the findings from the study to spread alarm regarding the growth of the Muslim population in the country.

”The study’s focus on changes in the share of majority and minority religious groups globally over a 65-year period should not be used to incite fear or discrimination against any community,” it said.

According to census figures, the decadal growth rate for Muslims has been declining over the past three decades.

Specifically, the decadal growth rate for Muslims decreased from 32.9 per cent in 1981-1991 to 24.6 per cent in 2001-2011.

”This decline is more pronounced than that of Hindus, whose growth rate fell from 22.7 to 16.8 per cent over the same period,” the NGO said.

The census data is available from 1951 to 2011 and is quite similar to the data in this study, indicating that these numbers are not new, the organisation said.

Noting that the TFR among all religious groups is declining, it said the highest decrease in the TFR from 2005-06 to 2019-21 was observed among Muslims, which dropped by 1 percentage point, followed by Hindus at 0.7 percentage point.

”This trend underscores that the fertility rates are converging across different religious communities,” it said.

The NGO, which promotes and advocates for the effective formulation and implementation of gender-sensitive population, health and development strategies and policies, said such interpretations are not only inaccurate but also misleading and baseless.

”The media’s selective portrayal of data to highlight the increase in the Muslim population is an example of misrepresentation that ignores broader demographic trends,” said Poonam Muttreja, executive director, Population Foundation of India.

Fertility rates are closely linked to education and income levels, not religion, she added.

”States with better access to education, healthcare and socio-economic development, such as Kerala and Tamil Nadu, exhibit lower TFRs across all religious groups. For example, the TFR among Muslim women in Kerala is lower than the TFR among Hindu women in Bihar,” the NGO said.

Successful family planning programmes in Muslim-majority countries like Bangladesh and Indonesia have resulted in lower birth rates compared to India. These countries have achieved this through higher levels of female education, greater employment opportunities and better access to contraceptive choices. This clearly shows that fertility decline is influenced by development factors rather than religious affiliation, Population Foundation of India added.

”The most effective way to manage population growth is through investment in education, economic development and gender equity. Our analysis indicates that women’s education is the most critical factor in reducing fertility rates. Therefore, interventions should focus on providing education and family planning services irrespective of religion,” Muttreja said.

There are several population issues the world is grappling with.

”Population Foundation of India urges the media to refrain from using demographic studies to create fear and division. It is essential to present data accurately and contextually, highlighting the role of education, income and socio-economic development in shaping demographic trends. We advocate for policies that promote inclusive development and gender equity to ensure a balanced and harmonious society,” the NGO said. (PTI)

NEW DELHI: According to a report by moneycontrol.com, Chhattisgarh Congress leader Radhika Khera, who resigned from the party on Sunday after alleging disrespect from the state unit, claimed on Monday that she was snubbed by the leadership because she didn’t follow the “anti-Hindu ideology of the party”.

Speaking to media, Khera also made startling allegations about how she was offered alcohol during the Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra and even coaxed to drink.

“During Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, the media chairman of Chhattisgarh Congress – Sushil Anand Shukha offered me alcohol and he along with 5-6 party workers used to knock the door of my room in inebriated condition. I informed Sachin Pilot, and Jairam Ramesh but nothing happened,” she said.

She claimed that she was ignored for not following the alleged anti-Hindu ideology of the party.

“On 30th evening when I went to talk Sushil Anand Shukla at state congress office, he abused me and shouted at me. They locked me inside, he with other two state spokesperson abused me. I screamed but no one opened the door. I was manhandled. I also complained to congress Maha mantri but no one pay heed to my complaints,” she added.

Khera added that she never used to believe the anti-Hindu charges levelled by rivals on Congress but got “exposed to the reality” after she attended the Pran Prathistha ceremony in Ayodhya on January 22.

“I always heard that Congress is anti-Ram, anti-Sanatan and anti-Hindu but I never believed it. Mahatma Gandhi used to start every meeting with ‘Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram’. I got exposed to the reality when I went to Ram temple with my grandmother and after returning from there, I put a ‘Jai Shri Ram’ flag on the door of my house and after that Congress party started hating me. Whenever I posted photos or videos, I was scolded and asked why did I visit Ayodhya when elections were under process,” she said.

On Sunday, in her resignation letter to Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, Khera had vowed to expose people suffering from a “male chauvinistic mentality” within the party.

She said that she faced criticism from within the party because she could not stop herself from visiting the Ram Temple in Ayodhya and getting a glimpse of Ram Lalla idol.

“Shri Ayodhya Dham, the birthplace of Ram Lalla, is a very sacred place for all of us and I could not stop myself from going there. But I had never thought in my life that I would have to face so much opposition for visiting there.”

“I have given more than 22 years of my life to this party and worked with full honesty from NSUI to the Congress’s media department. Despite that, I had to face such intense opposition because I am supporting Ram in Ayodhya,” she said.

Earlier this week, a video went viral in which former AICC spokesperson Radhika Khera purportedly said she was resigning due to “insult” by some leaders. Some party leaders said the outburst was the fallout of an argument between her and a senior office-bearer.

Source/Credits: Moneycontrol.com

KOTDWAR, (ANI): Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday asserted that after 500 years, Ram Lalla will celebrate his birthday within the temple premises rather than in a temporary tent. Addressing a public rally in Kotdwar, Union Home Minister praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for overseeing the temple’s construction and conducting the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony.

“Today is Ashtami, tomorrow is Ram Navami and after 500 years, Ramlala is going to celebrate his birthday in a grand temple instead of a tent. It is a matter of great fortune that we have witnessed the Pran Pratishtha of Ramlala in our lifetime. The Congress party kept the issue of Ram Mandir pending for 70 years. During the 5-year rule of Modi ji, the decision regarding Ram Mandir came, the Bhoomi Pujan of Ram Mandir was performed, and the Pran Pratishtha was also done,” Amit Shah said. He further praised Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami for implementing the Uniform Civil Code in the state.

“When the Bharatiya Jana Sangh was founded, our election manifesto demanded that no religion-based laws would exist in the country, only a Uniform Civil Code will exist. I am proud to say that Uttarakhand has become the first state to implement a Uniform Civil Code. In the party’s recent manifesto, PM Narendra Modi has mentioned the implementation of a UCC in the whole country,” Shah added. Amit Shah said that making Modi the Prime Minister for the third time means creating a ‘Vikshit Bharat.’

“Making Modiji the Prime Minister for the third time means creating a ‘developed India’. Making Modiji the Prime Minister for the third time means making India the third largest economy in the world. Making Modiji the Prime Minister for the third time means making three crore lakhpatis didi,” he asserted. He further said that by implementing CAA, citizenship will be granted to Hindu refugees who came to India from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh.

“By implementing CAA, the Modi government has done the work of granting citizenship to Hindu refugees who came to India from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh and were living in misery for the last 70 years,” he said. The Lok Sabha elections for all five Lok Sabha seats in Uttarakhand are scheduled to take place in a single phase on April 19, and to increase voter turnout in the hill state, more than 11,000 polling booths are being set up across the state. (ANI)

NEW DELHI: Jailed Delhi Chief Minister and AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal’s personal assistant Bibhav Kumar was questioned for several hours today by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with the liquor policy case.

The party’s Goa desk-in-charge during the 2022 Assembly polls, MLA Durgesh Pathak has been summoned by the probe agency. Sources within the ED said there is a direct link between Kumar and Pathak and the duo had all the details regarding the flow of funds during the Goa State Assembly polls. Kumar’s statement was recorded under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and his version will be tallied with what Pathak says.

The ED has recorded the statements of several vendors, agencies, service providers and others who were paid in cash during the Goa 2022 polls. The Aam Aadmi Party has claimed that a huge sum to the tune of Rs 25 crore was paid to volunteers and party workers in cash towards food, travelling, transportation during the campaign, which according to them lasted nearly three months.

ED sources claimed that either Kumar or Pathak could be arrested if discrepancies are found in their statements. “As long as they co-operate and are telling the truth we have no reason to arrest them, but if any discrepancies are found in their statements or if they fail to co-operate, we will arrest them.

The ED has already got the exact turn of events and the financial trail. The recipients of the amounts have already admitted that the received cash from AAP leaders. It wants to find out who were the leaders or party workers who were distributing the amounts and to what extent of cash did they handle, the source stated.

NEW DELHI: The Enforcement Directorate on Monday questioned Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s PA Bibhav Kumar in the excise policy-linked money laundering case and ED sources said he is likely to be arrested.

Kumar’s statement was recorded under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and further questioning is likely either tomorrow or after the Eid festival.

The ED said Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Durgesh Pathak has been called for questioning in the case after recording Kumar’s statement.

Meanwhile, the Supreme court dismissed AAP leader Sanjay Singh’s plea against a Gujarat HC order rejecting his petition to quash summons issued to him by a local court in criminal defamation case.

NEW DELHI, (PTI): Delhi minister and senior AAP leader Atishi lashed out at the Election Commission (EC) after she was served a show-cause notice on Friday, asking if it was a ”subsidiary organisation” of the BJP.

The notice was issued to her over her remarks that the BJP had approached her to either join the party or be prepared to be nabbed by the Enforcement Directorate within a month.

In a press conference, Atishi alleged that the notice was leaked to the media by the BJP an hour before the EC sent it to her through email.

She asked why the Election Commission did not issue notices to the central agencies concerned after Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was arrested and bank accounts of the Congress were frozen ahead of elections.

She asked if the Election Commission is a ”subsidiary organisation” of the BJP.

She said the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) wrote multiple letters to the poll panel over the BJP’s ”objectionable” hoardings and posters, but no action was taken on them.

Atishi said she will reply to the notice and remind the Election Commission of the neutrality and non-partisanship expected of it in conducting free and fair elections in the country.

In its notice, the poll panel asked Atishi to back with facts her statement that the BJP approached her to join the party.

The BJP moved the poll commission a day back against Atishi’s claim made on April 2. (PTI)

NEW DELHI: According to media reports, while Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is almost set to contest the Lok Sabha polls from Rae Bareli, a voice in the Congress AICC claimed that even South Goa was being considered as an option. The party does not want to lose the seat, which is a traditional Congress stronghold and could even consider fielding a senior national leader in the constituency.

After the BJP fielded Pallavi Srinivas Dempo – wife of Goan industrialist Srinivas Dempo as their candidate, the Congress high command began to rework their strategies. The bickering between some factions in the Congress Goa unit – namely the Girish Chodankar faction and the group supporting Captain Viriato Fernandes could well be a smoke screen or façade to throw the BJP election planners off track, said the source. This development also probably explains why GPCC President Amit Patkar has suddenly gone incommunicado and had even switched off his mobile phone for two days.

“The entire Congress voter and karyakarta base, including the alliance partners in South Goa can be galvanized into action within a span of a few days if a national leader of the stature of Priyanka Gandhi were to be declared as the candidate. It will take only 2-3 days to create a frenzy, if Priyanka Gandhi is contesting from South Goa. For the last few days, there has been gossip about the Congress “importing” a candidate from outside for the South Goa seat and more likely a ‘woman candidate’. It is only today that Priyanka Gandhi’s name has cropped up in some quarters,” the source said, adding that if there are factions, they will get ‘dissolved’ if a name like Priyanka Gandhi comes up.

Even though no official announcement was made, Pradeep Singhal, district Congress president from Amethi had told the Times of India a month ago that Priyanka Gandhi is very likely to contest from Rae Bareli.

The Congress high command on Tuesday had deputed two Observers to South Goa to undertake a “secret” survey. Even the LoP Yuri Alemao and other senior leaders have not been informed, our source said. The survey is already underway and the Observers who reached Goa on Wednesday are to submit their findings by Friday.

“The observers reached Goa on Wednesday and have already started their work in South Goa. They are visiting various  areas in the constituency and have been given a very clear assignment to focus on Ponda, Shiroda, Cuncolim, Quepem, Curchorem, Sanvordem, Sanguem and Canacona which have a huge ‘silent voter’ base,” our source informed.

“If a strong Goan candidate who can win the election is not identified, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra remains an option. Maybe she may contest from both seats Rae Bareli as well as South Goa,” our source said, adding that the party will not let the seat slip away from their hands.

Meanwhile Congress leader Rahul Gandhi filed his nomination papers from Kerala’s Wayanad Lok Sabha seat today. Rahul, accompanied by his sister Priyanka Gandhi and other senior party leaders including AICC general secretary K C Venugopal, submitted his nomination papers to the Wayanad District Collector who is also the Returning Officer. Earlier, K C Venugopal filed his nomination from Alappuzha constituency in Kerala.

NEW DELHI: After the Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) Delhi office was completely sealed off by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday evening,  sources claimed that at least two or three AAP Goa MLA candidates who received huge cash amounts during the 2022 State Assembly polls, could be called in for questioning by the ED. If they are not able to give convincing answers, they could also be arrested, the ED source said, adding that both AAP MLAs from Benaulim and Velim constituencies will be questioned by the ED. The ED has claimed that Rs 45 crore which were “proceeds of crime” in the Delhi Excise policy case were spent during the 2022 Assembly polls and everyone who worked for the party was paid in cash. The money was moved between states by angadias or couriers who function in a similar manner like hawala operators.

The Delhi High Court refused to give Kejriwal’s lawyers an urgent hearing and his application for relief is likely to be heard only on Wednesday or Thursday. The ED is likely to call in for questioning several Goa AAP MLA candidates and leaders who received monies in cash during the poll campaign.

While the agency confiscated some papers, two laptops and other digital devices from Kejriwal’s residence, the party office was sealed the next day after Kejriwal was arrested.

The ED has said its officers will question several present and past AAP leaders from Goa as it has alleged that Rs 45 crore from the proceeds of crime in the Delhi excise case were used by the AAP in the 2022 Goa State Assembly polls and payments were made in cash.

Statements of some Goa AAP MLA candidates (for the 2022 Assembly polls) and party workers were recorded in the weeks preceding Kejriwal’s arrest and according to media reports, one MLA candidate gave a written statement to the ED that all payments and polls expenses were made in cash. According to sources, one ex-AAP leader from Goa who was questioned earlier, has told the ED that huge amounts in cash were distributed to voters to “buy” votes during the 2022 polls.

The present AAP MLAs in Goa – Venzy Viegas of Benaulim constituency and Cruz Silva of Velim will be questioned by the ED and their statements recorded, as will all the other MLA candidates who has contested the 2022 polls on an AAP ticket, ED sources in Delhi said.

Kejriwal was remanded to ED custody for six days, until March 28, in connection with the Delhi liquor policy excise scam. The ED alleged that Kejriwal was the mastermind behind the scam, diverting funds to the Goa election campaign in 2022. According to the ED, Kejriwal solicited substantial bribes from stakeholders in the liquor policy, promising them undue benefits during the Punjab and Goa elections.