By TCN Special Correspondent,
Lucknow: Lapse on part of Census Department has created furor among Muslim community. The bone of contention is the religion column in the proforma for Census-2011. It mentions Musalman instead of Islam in the religion column which is being resented by the community.
Already several Muslim leaders have lodged their protest with the census directorate while the officials engaged in the national exercise of enumeration admitting the error are now mentioning Islam in the column by striking of the word Musalman.
Commenting on the error, Naib Imam Aishbagh Eidgah, Maulana Khalid Rasheed Farangi Mahli termed it highly objectionable. “We are surprised over the error in a programme of national importance. It should be probed about who is behind the mistake. The matter is linked with our religious sentiments and prompt action should be taken in rectifying the mistake,” said Farangi Mahli. The 29 point proforma mentions six religions with Musalman mentioned in the second place after Hindu. Muslims object that they follow Islam as their religion.
The situation has even led to several heated arguments between enumerators and the Muslim denizens during the exercise.
Noted lawyer and member, All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) Zafaryab Jeelani also opined that it is a deliberate move on part of the decision makers. “We understand that it cannot be rectified but those who have done it should be questioned. We are meeting the senior officials in this regard to lodge our protest,” said Jilani.
General Secretary, Islamic Centre of India, Lucknow, Maulana Naeemur Rehman stated that meetings are held in Muslim mohallas for creating awareness over the issue. “The issue is a serious one and we cannot allow infringement on our religious sentiments,” he said.
Naib Imam, Tile Wali Masjid, Maulana Abdul Mannan Waizi stated that the issue will be taken up with Muslim parliamentarians for raising it in the parliament.
On the other hand, City’s Census Officer, PK Srivastava admitted that the error has crept in the proforma. “It is a misprint and we are rectifying it by crossing the word Musalman and writing Islam while enumerating the Muslim population,” said Srivastava.