The BJP on Wednesday appeared to backtrack from its remarks that a rise in growth rate of Muslims and Christians compared to a dip among Hindus would upset the country's demographic profile.
Having come under criticism for giving a communal colour to the findings of the national census, the Opposition party said curbing the population growth was a national concern and not a religious one.
"This is an issue of national importance. The report has raised concerns over population escalation and this is a matter of concern for all Indians," said Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi in Bangalore, where top BJP leaders met on Wednesday.
Former minister Sushma Swaraj reacted similarly, saying population was a national problem and not a question of Hindus or Muslims.
Political parties as well as Muslim groups slammed the BJP and its Hindu nationalist mentor Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) for taking the census data on religion as a proof that Hindus in India were "under threat from a rising Muslims population".
The first ever census report on the basis of religion showed the growth of Muslims at 36 percent, a 1.5 per cent rise over the 1991 census, and a decline of Hindu population by 4.8 per cent to 20.3 per cent.