Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Agartala: Tripura Leader of the Opposition Jitendra Chaudhury dropped a bombshell Thursday, August 27. He accused government officials of rigging the ongoing national census. The state legislative assembly session served as his platform to call out the potential fraud. This marks the first general census in 16 years following pandemic delays.
Chaudhury claims District Magistrates and Block Development Officers are leaning on enumerators. These officials allegedly force staff to hide households lacking electricity, lanterns, or proper toilets. Some workers recorded accurate data during field visits only to have superiors demand edits later. The opposition leader warned that these lies will poison future state development planning regardless of which party holds power.
He explicitly stated his concerns do not target every civil servant or the Census Directorate. He pointed to a specific group of officers seeking to artificially polish their own records. Chaudhury urged Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha to step in and stop the interference immediately.
He emphasized the gravity of the situation during his assembly address. "Whether it is a census or any other statistical exercise, it is extremely important for the future of the country. Planning and setting targets depend on accurate data," Chaudhury said. He demanded that the administration let enumerators do their jobs without fear or pressure.
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