Indian Authorities Take Exception to Survey

India's Federal Government has been asked by the Kerala regional government to 'investigate' a door-to-door survey asking Muslims for their views on sensitive questions concerning religion and politics. Interviews were by TNS for Washington-based Princeton Survey Research Associates (PSRAI).

The survey appears similar to a number of polls conducted in the last few years in the UK and elsewhere, asking Muslims about views of US policy, middle eastern disputes, support for Sharia law and for wearing of the burqa; and reports indicate that it may have been conducted in a total of twenty Indian states with no apparent complaints from other regions.

However, last month interviewers began knocking on doors in Muslim-dominated Karimadom colony in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. Residents became suspicious about the questions and reportedly prevented the all-female survey team from continuing. TNS' office in the regional capital Kochi has subsequently been closed and the shutters put up, according to reports - perhaps because interviewers were initially 'taken into custody'.

Kerala Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said his government had sought help from the Federal authorities 'to find out why this happened, for whom it was done and all other details'. According to www.gulf-times.com , Kerala's Director General of Police Jacob Punnose said a case would be filed 'under Indian Penal Code which relates to the charges of promoting enmity between groups on grounds of religion and race.'

A substantial part of the survey looked at views of the US administration, its policies and whether America is perceived as anti-Muslim. PSRAI conducts regular work looking at issues around religion and racism for clients including Notre Dame University and the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life, and publishes regular results from surveys looking at Barack Obama's approval rating, American opinion towards American Muslims and other topics.

At the time of going to press, DRNO has not received any official comment from TNS.

Web sites: www.tnsglobal.com and www.psrai.com .