West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Friday said Census 2027 would be conducted in the state between August 1 and the end of February next year, asserting that the exercise had "no connection with politics" even as he alleged demographic changes in the state.
Stressing the significance of the exercise, Suvendu urged people to participate in the process. "The census in Bengal will begin from August 1 and continue till midnight on February end next year. It has no connection with politics," he said.
The chief minister said India had made considerable progress in census operations and that West Bengal needs to catch up with other states.
"The country has moved far ahead in census operations, while we have remained behind," Adhikari said.
He also referred to alleged demographic change in parts of the state, attributing it to cross-border infiltration.
"We have a 600-kilometre-long unfenced border with Bangladesh. As the previous state government did not hand over land to BSF, fencing could not be done, which led to infiltration and a change in the demographic composition in parts of West Bengal," he said.
He stressed that accurate census data was essential for governance and planning. "This census drive is very important. I urge everyone in Bengal to take part in it," Adhikari said.
The chief minister attended a meeting at the state secretariat Nabanna in connection with the first phase of the 'Census of India, 2027'.