Misleading: Udaipur's Muslim population has grown from 3.5 percent in 2011 to 15.67 percent in 2021.

By: Ishita Goel
June 30 2022

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Context:

On June 28, 2022, two men, Riaz Akhtari and Ghouse Mohammad murdered tailor Kanhaiya Lal over a post on social media in support of BJP leader Nupur Sharma in Udaipur, Rajasthan. The accused released a confession of the murder and a threat to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This incident has gained international attention and has seen movements in Udaipur, including protests leading to stringent actions like curfews and suspension of the internet, reported The Hindu. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has registered a case and arrested the accused. Religious and political posts have gone viral on social media regarding the incident. One such post claimed that "in just ten years" in Udaipur, the Muslim population has grown from 3.5 percent in 2011 to 15.5 percent in 2021. The user attached two purported screenshots from websites referring to the numbers claimed. However, these numbers are not accurate and are misquoted. 

In fact: 

According to the Census India website, the total population of the Udaipur district was 30,68,420 according to the census of 2011. The segmented data under religion-wise population listed that the Muslim population stood second with approximately 3.4 percent, a population of 1,04,307. Hindus were the majority, with 93.53 percent, a population of 28,69,976.

However, the total population of Udaipur city was 4,51,100 in the 2011 census. The segmented data under religion-wise population listed that the Muslim population stood second with approximately 15.67 percent with a population of 70,665, after Hindus being the majority with 72.90 percent with a population of 3,28,843.

Udaipur is a Municipal Council city under the Udaipur Metropolitan Region. The city is divided into 55 wards. A district (zilā) is an administrative division of an Indian state or territory managed by the local government. Udaipur district is further divided into 11 tehsils to facilitate easy administration. 

In India, the census is conducted every ten years. The 2011 census was the fifteenth national census survey conducted. However, the 2021 census has been delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In August 2021, The Hindu reported that the Ministry of Home Affairs officially announced the postponement of the 2021 census. It is noted that the provisional data would be released in 2023-24 before the next general elections. 

The Census India website states that the data is proposed to be collected through a mobile app instead of the traditional pen and paper medium. The enumerators are encouraged to use their phones. However, the traditional paper method option is still open, which would eventually be submitted electronically. It would speed up the process of data collection and analysis following the collection.

The verdict: 

The 2021 census is in process. There is a possibility that the data could reflect an increase in the population. However, it is speculation. Social media posts have used Udaipur district and city data from 2011 and claimed they are figures representing the Muslim population in Udaipur decades apart. Hence we have marked this claim as misleading.