Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Saturday said that India’s Muslim population could become nearly equal to the population of Indonesia once the upcoming Census figures are released.
Speaking to reporters in Mumbai after attending a seminar on the Parsi community, Rijiju said the delay in conducting the Census since 2021 means the country’s population has increased significantly over the years.
“The Muslim population in the country is likely to be nearly on par with Indonesia’s population. Once the Census data is out, it will be the likely outcome,” Rijiju said.
Indonesia is currently considered the country with the world’s largest Muslim population.
The minister, however, added that population figures should not divide citizens. “Whatever the numbers of whichever community are, all are Indians,” he said.
Rijiju Raises Concern Over Declining Parsi Population
During the event, Rijiju also expressed concern about the shrinking population of the Parsi community in India. He said the number of Parsis in the country has fallen to around 52,000 to 55,000.
“The Parsis are the smallest minority community in India and the government is working to protect them and ensure their numbers do not shrink further,” he said.
Rijiju attended a seminar titled “Parsis in Modern India: Navigating Cultural and Socio-Economic Pathways” in Mumbai, where leaders and scholars discussed the challenges faced by the community.
Minister Rejects Claims of Threat to Minorities
The BJP leader dismissed allegations that minorities are unsafe in India. According to him, some political groups are trying to create fear among Muslims and Christians for political reasons.
“All citizens are equal before the Constitution and no one is treated differently on the basis of religion or caste,” Rijiju said.
He also linked the BJP’s recent victory in West Bengal to issues of national security. Referring to the state’s border with Bangladesh, Rijiju said illegal migration has remained a concern for a long time.
“The BJP forming government in West Bengal is also important for the country because the state shares a sensitive border with Bangladesh,” he said.
BJP Government in Bengal Will Help Implement Central Schemes: Rijiju
Rijiju claimed that several central government schemes were not properly implemented during the previous Trinamool Congress government led by Mamata Banerjee.
He said the new BJP-led government in West Bengal would ensure better implementation of central programmes, including the National e-Vidhan Application.
