The Communist Party of India (Marxist) has demanded the immediate scrapping of the Centre’s High-Level Committee on Demographic Changes (HLCDC), raising strong objections to its functioning and the nature of data being collected.

In a statement, the CPM Politburo said the committee’s ongoing data collection exercise must be halted “forthwith” and the panel itself dissolved, alleging that its mandate is being driven by a “pre-conceived agenda”.

The Ministry of Home Affairs constituted the HLCDC on May 26 to examine the nature, causes, and impact of demographic changes in the country. These include shifts arising from illegal immigration and other “unusual” factors.

Chaired by retired Justice Prakash Prabhakar Naolekar, the panel has been tasked with recommending policy, administrative, and legal measures based on its findings.

Questionnaire triggers political row

The controversy centres around a detailed questionnaire circulated to states and Union Territories.

According to the CPM, inputs from states suggest that the questionnaire seeks sensitive data beyond routine demographic indicators. This includes:

• Religion-wise population trends
• School enrolment patterns
• Religious conversions among Scheduled Tribes
• Changes in land ownership
• Inclusion and exclusion in electoral rolls
• Issuance of Aadhaar cards

The party further alleged that the questionnaire seeks information on the religion of individuals excluded from electoral rolls.

Concerns over religion-based data collection

Citing media reports, the CPM Politburo said the committee has asked states to provide data on “visible changes” in religion-based demographics across districts, industrial zones, and border regions over the past 15 years.

There are also indications, the party claimed, that data on the religious composition of tribal populations since 2011 has been sought—raising concerns over targeted profiling.

The CPM has linked the exercise to what it described as the RSS-BJP’s “anti-minority agenda”, arguing that the data collection is politically motivated.

The party maintained that the committee’s work cannot be viewed in isolation and must be seen alongside other ongoing or proposed exercises such as the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and the delimitation process.

BJP rejects allegations

The BJP has dismissed the CPM’s claims as politically motivated.

Party leaders asserted that the committee’s mandate, as outlined by the Centre, is to objectively study demographic changes—including those linked to illegal immigration—and recommend appropriate policy responses.

The CPM has also questioned the necessity of a separate data collection exercise at a time when the national census process is underway.

It argued that census data should remain the primary and authoritative basis for assessing demographic trends, rather than parallel exercises that could lead to duplication or misuse.

Wider implications flagged

According to the CPM, the combined impact of the HLCDC’s work, the census, SIR, and delimitation could have far-reaching consequences on citizenship, political representation, federal structure, and social harmony.

The party warned that such exercises, if not handled transparently, risk undermining democratic institutions.

In July, the Centre had announced that the HLCDC would undertake visits to states and Union Territories for on-ground data collection, backed by a structured questionnaire.

However, amid escalating political opposition, the CPM has reiterated its demand for an immediate halt to the process and the disbanding of the committee altogether.

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