Everyone should register themselves as Hindus in upcoming census, asks VHP president

Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) president Alok Kumar said on Tuesday (December 9, 2025) that everyone “should register their religion as Hindu” in the upcoming census.

The VHP’s request came in response to demands from various sections of society, like Adivasis, to include a separate religion code for them.

Sharing the reasoning behind asking “everyone” to register themselves as Hindu, Mr. Kumar said that the same is demanded to defeat those who are trying to create a divide in the Hindu society.

“Certain sections from Lingayats in Karnataka, Sarnas in tribal areas and sections of Jatavs and in general amongst the SCs and STs are running campaign to establish them as apart of the Hindu fold. We want to ensure that such attempts to divide the Hindu society fail and we remain one,” said Mr. Kumar.

Census will be conducted in India, in two phases, after a gap of 15 years. The first phase, House Listing and Housing Census, will be conducted between April and September 2026 while the second phase of Population Enumeration (PE), will be done in February 2027.

There are six major religions in India with majority being Hindus following by Muslim, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist, and Jain. In 2011, 82 faiths identified themselves as “Other Religions and Persuasions” (ORP).

Speaking during the ongoing Central Council meeting of the organisation in Delhi, Mr. Kumar added that the criteria for defining religious minorities should be reconsidered.

“A minority cannot be determined solely on the basis of population. It must also be considered whether followers of a particular religion have suffered any backwardness or oppression that warrants granting them special privileges,” he said.

Sharing the topics of discussion in the two day long meeting which will conclude on Wednesday (December 10, 2025), Mr. Kumar said the organisation demands that the Freedom of Religion Act should be implemented throughout the country. He added that Hindu temples should be freed from government control and handed back to the Hindu community immediately.

The organisation also demanded that the anti-drug campaign should be intensified across the country, especially in the border regions.

Sharing concerns over the Red fort blast that took place on November 10, VHP president said that it is now a point to ponder that “Jihad” is not solely driven by poverty or ignorance.

“We must register that Jihad is now also driven by religious fanaticism. The investigation into the Red Fort attack proves that jihadists are coming from among the well-educated, high-earning individuals who hold respected positions in society. The mentality of jihad must be fought for the sake of world peace,” he added.