NEW DELHI, Aug 25 - In a development that is likely to lead to a fresh controversy, Assam�s Muslim population has increased to 34.22 per cent, a jump of over four per cent, while the Hindu population has been pegged at 61.46 per cent.
The Registrar General and Census Commissioner, India today released the data on Population by Religious Communities of Census 2011.
In Assam, the total Hindu population is 1,91,80,759 (61.46 per cent) and the Muslim population is 1,6,79,345 (34.22 per cent). In the 2001 census the Muslim population was 30.9 per cent. That illegal migration from Bangladesh could be the major factor behind the growth, has become evident from the fact that almost all the districts bordering Bangladesh have recorded a sharp rise in Muslim population. As per the 2011 census the total population of Assam is 3,12,05,573.
In 2001, six districts in Assam were Muslim-dominated, but in 2011 it increased to nine. The Muslim majority districts include Barpeta, Dhubri, Karimganj, Goalpara, Darrang, Bongaigaon, Hailakandi, Nagaon and Morigaon.
What is significant is that many of the districts in the State have shown a sharp rise in Muslim population, while the Hindu population has declined.
According to the census report, Dhubri district has recorded the highest Muslim population of 79.67 per cent, while the Hindu population has shrunk to 19.92 per cent. In the 2001 census Dhubri had recorded a Muslim population of 74 per cent.
However, the highest growth rate of Muslim population was recorded in Barpeta district, where it has grown at a fast pace recording a population of 70.73 per cent as against the 2001 population of 59 per cent. The Muslim population has grown by 11.73 per cent. The Hindu population in the district has declined to 29.10 per cent.
Karimganj district closely follows Barpeta. The district�s Muslim population has grown to 56.26 per cent. According to the 2001 census report the Muslim population of the district was 52 per cent. The Hindu population was 42.18 per cent.
The Muslim population in Goalpara district bordering Bangladesh has touched 57.52 per cent, up from 54 per cent. The Hindu population remained stagnant at 34.50 per cent.
In Morigaon, the Muslim population has grown marginally and touched 52.56 per cent, up from 51 per cent in 2001. The Hindu population was calculated at 47.19 per cent, according to the 2011 census.
Nagaon is another district where the Muslim population has maintained its upward trend, recording a population of 55.35 per cent, growing by at least four per cent. In 2001, the Muslim population was 51 per cent. The Hindu population of Nagaon district is 43.39 per cent.
Lakhimpur is one of the few districts which have not shown any major increase in the Muslim population. The Hindu population is 76 per cent, while the Muslim population was pegged at 18.5 per cent, increasing from 16 per cent recorded in 2001.
In the Barak Valley, Hailakandi district has recorded a Muslim population of 60.31 per cent in 2011, as against the 2001 census figure of 57 per cent. The Hindu population in 2011 was recorded at 38.1 per cent.
The Cachar district Muslim population has grown marginally to 37.7 per cent in 2011. In 2001 the Muslim population was 36 per cent. The Hindu population is 59 per cent.
Meanwhile, at the national level, the Hindu population in 2011 has declined by 0.7 percentage point (PP); the proportion of Sikh population has declined by 0.2 PP and the Buddhist population has declined by 0.1 PP during the decade 2001-2011. The proportion of Muslim population to total population has increased by 0.8 PP. There has been no significant change in the proportion of Christians and Jains.
The growth rate of population in the decade 2001-2011 was 17.7 per cent. The growth rate of population of the different religious communities in the same period was, Hindus: 16.8 per cent; Muslims: 24.6 per cent; Christians: 15.5 per cent; Sikhs: 8.4 per cent; Buddhists: 6.1 per cent and Jains: 5.4 per cent.
The total population in 2011 is 121.09 crore, Hindu 96.63 crore (79.8 per cent); Muslim 17.22 crore (14.2 per cent); Christian 2.78 crore (2.3 per cent); Sikh 2.08 crore (1.7 per cent); Buddhist 0.84 crore (0.7 per cent); Jain 0.45 crore (0.4 per cent), other religions and persuasions (ORP) 0.79 crore (0.7 per cent) and religion not stated 0.29 crore (0.2 per cent).
