India, June 23 -- 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 ...