By TwoCircles.net Staff Correspondent,
Thiruvananthapuram: The Central Intelligence Department has begun investigation into the mysterious survey conducted in Muslim-populated areas of Thiruvananthapuram, according to reports. The IB Director has been asked to submit a report on the matter, Central Minister of State for Home Affairs Mullappally Ramachandran is reported to have said.
The controversial survey was conducted in the Muslim-populated Karimadom Colony in Thiruvananthapuram. The surveyors had reportedly spent 45 minutes and more in one house for the survey. Several questions in the survey are said to be made specially aiming at Muslims and questions their patriotism and attitudes in national matters. There are questions about the attitude towards Israel and the USA.
Four Kochi-based women who came for the survey were caught by people, and handed over to the Fort police on October 2. The women reportedly said that the survey was being conducted for a company named TNS and that they were being paid Rs 30 for conducting the survey in one house. The women were released on that day itself. Then Ernakulam police was informed of the matter and the TNS authorities were asked to present before the police.
The state Intelligence Department had found that an American agency was behind the survey, and it had also requested the state government that the central Intelligence should investigate into the matter. Meanwhile, accusation has come up that the state police had not investigated seriously about the survey. Those taken in to custody were released on self-bond. Then the Kochi police was asked the details of company. Nothing else was done by the state police. The survey was reportedly conducted without the permission of the state or central government.
Meanwhile, it has been found that the survey was conducted for an American agency. The 83-page questionnaire for the survey, in the name of a marketing agency, was found to have been made in the USA, according to reports. The survey was conducted by a Kochi-based agency named TNS, but was actually done for Washington-based Princeton Survey Research Association International Limited, according to reports.
The survey is seen controversial and mysterious because of the several questions that keep the Muslim community in questionable stand. One of the questions ask which country would be preferred if the person cannot live in India. And, though about 40 countries are mentioned, the surveyors are reported to have asked specifically about Pakistan. Some other questions are about the role of Islam in politics, which legislative system is suitable for a Muslim country, which should be done first – bettering the economic condition of the Muslim minority in India or to increase the representation of Muslims in the political system, the opinion on the view that elections to the legislative assembly are against the Islamic principles, approach towards Israel and the USA, etc. There are some questions about the hijab, whether they followed the five daily prayers and fasting in Ramadan, etc.