CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechuri has criticized the govt for postponing the Census 2021. “It is criminal to further postpone Census 2021. Census data is vital for policy formulations & for focussing on programmes for marginalised people & economically backward regions. Since it started in 1881 it continued uninterrupted even during the two World Wars!” Yechuri tweeted. Earlier, Union Minister Nityanand Rai said that the conduct of Census 2021, updating of the NPR, and the related field activities were postponed due to the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic.