Identify yourself as Hindu in census to avoid division: VHP chief

VHP President Alok Kumar said "everyone should identify themselves as Hindus" in the upcoming census to prevent "division of society". He claimed some groups, including Lingayats, Sarnas and sections of SCs/STs, were being encouraged to disassociate from Hindu identity. The upcoming Census will be conducted in two stages, with House Listing in 2026 and Population Enumeration in February 2027.