Political uncertainty and a wave of social bitterness could be triggered if the caste census is held amid the existing mistrust on policy issues between the Union government and the opposition.

Some castes are apprehensive about being marginalised while Muslims may feel that the exercise is aimed at fragmenting the community into castes and subcastes. Anxiety about the humongous process is also acute in Uttar Pradesh (UP) where caste remains critical to the success of political parties in elections.

Though the home ministry has said that the caste census will be held along with the census, Opposition parties are sceptical about the government’s intentions, especially after the June 16 notification on the Census, which did not mention a word on holding a simultaneous caste census, as was announced earlier.

Thus, conducting the caste census, the first after the country’s independence, in an atmosphere of mistrust will only deepen that deficit in the political domain and could spread disharmony in society. Perhaps it will be politically prudent for the government to allay fears on the exercise, which is not only gigantic but also has wide-ranging social implications.

The opposition’s contention is that the BJP was opposed to the caste census as they believed it would divide the society, clearly reflected........

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