Census data a non-issue: JD(U)

Even as the BJP spoke of a national campaign on "uneven growth of religious communities" based on the findings of the 2001 census, the Janata Dal (United), a major constituent of the NDA, termed it a non-issue.

The differential population growth was a "non-issue", said JD(U) leader Digvijay Singh. The JD(U) had said if the BJP adopted a Hindutva agenda it would part ways with them.

The party had blamed the BJP's response to the Gujarat riots as one of the reasons for its poor performance in the 2004 polls.

"This issue has not been made an issue for the NDA. Right now it is only with the BJP," he said.

"The JD(U) is not worried by the census data, any sane literate person can see that high population growth rates are there in lower income groups across religious lines and not just certain communities," he said.

This statement is at variance with what BJP chief M Venkaiah Naidu said of the data. Naidu termed it an issue of "grave concern".

While the JD(U) is not eager to pick fights with the BJP just before polls in Maharashtra and more importantly Bihar, the party is making moves to protect its own constituency.