Giriraj Singh Accuses Owaisi of “Rumour-Mongering” on Population Data

By A Staff Reporter — In Patna, Bihar, Union Minister Giriraj Singh recently criticized AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi, accusing him of spreading misinformation that Muslims in India will not equal the Hindu population for decades. Singh remarked, “People like Owaisi spread rumours and confusion, suggesting that Muslims won’t reach parity with Hindus even in the next 80–90 years. I want to tell him to stop misleading Hindus.”

Pointing to historical data, Singh noted that, based on government records, India’s Muslim population has grown significantly since the country's first census. “In 1951, the Muslim population was around 2.5 to 2.8 crores. Today, official data places it at 17 crores, while some estimates suggest it could be as high as 25 crores,” Singh claimed. In contrast, he argued that the Hindu population has tripled since independence, growing from 30 crores to 90 crores, while the Muslim population, he suggested, has increased “by seven times.”

Singh’s comments were made against the backdrop of debates around population growth and religious demographics, issues that often stir political and social discourse in India. He highlighted the potential for these figures to be misconstrued, implying that misleading narratives could create division. “The data tells its own story,” Singh emphasized, cautioning against what he described as attempts to foster confusion and distrust among communities.