New Delhi [India], June 5 (ANI): Amid the Opposition's allegations on Census, the Ministry of Home Affairs on Thursday clarified that Union Home Minister Amit Shah, on many occasions, has assured that in the delimitation exercise, concerns of Southern states will be taken care of.

The spokesperson for the Ministry of Home Affairs, in a post on X, said, 'Budget has never been a constraint for Census as fund is always ensured by the Govt. HM Amit Shah has clarified on many occasions that in the delimitation exercise, concerns of southern states will be taken care of and discussed with all concerned at an appropriate time.'

Further, it emphasised that all the preparations were made to conduct the Census in 2021, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was delayed.

'Census 2021 was to be conducted, and all preparations for the Census were completed. However, due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic across the country, the Census work was postponed. The aftershock of Covid-19 continued for quite some time,' the post stated.

'COVID disrupted all sectors, including education. Around 30 lakh enumerators are needed for the Census. Enumerators, who are primary school teachers, are key persons for conducting the Census. Conducting the Census after Covid could have disrupted primary education immensely,' the MHA Spokesperson stated on X.

It added that the countries that conducted the Census immediately after COVID-19 faced issues with the quality and coverage of Census data.

'The Government has decided to commence the process of census forthwith which will complete on 01 March, 2027, the reference date for Census,' the post stated.

On Wednesday, the central government announced that the Population Census 2027 will be conducted in two phases and will also include the enumeration of castes.

According to the MHA statement, the reference date for the 'Population Census-2027 will be 00:00 hours on March 1, 2027, for most parts of the country.'

However, for the Union Territory of Ladakh and the non-synchronous snow-bound areas of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand, the reference date will be 00:00 hours on October 1, 2026.

After this, the DMK alleged that the census would be held after the proposed delimitation and that there was a plan to reduce Tamil Nadu's Parliamentary representation.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin said that the Indian Constitution mandates that delimitation must follow the first Census after 2026.

'The BJP has now delayed the Census to 2027, making their plan clear to reduce Tamil Nadu's Parliamentary representation. I had warned about this. It is now unfolding,' he said in a post on X.

He also hit out at AIADMK leader Edappadi K Palaniswami.

'By siding with the BJP, Palaniswami is not just silent but complicit in this betrayal. It's now clear that he has surrendered to Delhi's domination. The people of Tamil Nadu are united as one in their demand for a Fair Delimitation. We need clear answers from the Union Government,' he said.

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said in a post on X that there is really no reason to delay the Census, which was due in 2021, for another twenty-three months.

'The Modi Government is capable only of generating headlines, not meeting deadlines,' he said. (ANI)