Tharoor Urges Data First in Demographic Change Debate

At a literary event in the capital, Shashi Tharoor welcomed the government’s decision to form a high-powered panel studying India’s shifting population patterns. The Congress leader insisted that facts must precede political rhetoric, arguing that incomplete numbers risk distorting public discourse. He pointed out that the forthcoming census will deliver essential insights into fertility, migration, and age structures. Tharoor cautioned against rushing to conclusions that could deepen social divides. During the same evening, he launched Moroccan Ambassador H.E. Mohammed Maliki’s reflective book and praised its blend of personal memory and diplomatic wisdom. The MP also revealed the recipient of this year’s Oxford Bookstore cover prize, lauding designer Bena Sreen’s creative interpretation of Amitava Kumar’s latest work. By separating data analysis from electoral posturing, Tharoor hopes to steer the demographic conversation toward informed policy rather than divisive slogans.