New Delhi: The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) today (Sep 7, 2004) welcomed the first-ever religion-based census in the country but the Imam of Fatehpuri Jama Masjid alleged it was a "conspiracy" to disrupt communal harmony.

"The religion based Census is a good move. I welcome it", Kamal Farooqui, a member of the Muslim Personal Law Board said adding that efforts should be made to make it more transparent so that the exact population based on religion was known to all.

Referring to the higher population growth among the Muslims, he said there were several reasons behind it, which included greater response by members of the community to population enumeration and strict prohibition on abortion.

Besides, he said the growth of Muslim population in different areas should be ascertained to know the "demographic" structure and the reasons behind it.

He said Muslims were educationally backward in the country, which has a direct bearing on the population growth.

Farooqui said, "Our efforts should not be to view it from the angle of Hindu or Muslim community. Efforts should be made to remove educational and social backwardness to overcome the growing population".

On the other hand, Imam of Fatehpuri Jama Masjid, Delhi, Mufti Mukarram Ahmed said he "smells" a conspiracy behind the census and alleged it was targeted at Muslims and divide different communities living in peace and harmony.

"Either it is a conspiracy or a mistake. I don't agree with the report. It is aimed at destroying the social amity and spread communalism," he said.