On the other side, many urban Hindus, otherwise liberal, have reacted belligerently to the recent blasts. "If they are not happy here, let them go to Pakistan," was the stunning response of a middle-class housewife, who has many Muslim friends, including Pakistanis, who come and spend weeks with her in Delhi every year. Terror has come close to home, threatening an otherwise peaceful existence.
This is not the language she would use against the Dalits, however much she may dislike Mayawati, or against Lalu Yadav and Mulayam Singh Yadav who would, at best, be described as caricatures, or against the Naxalites, who have also killed people in terror attacks.
The assumption behind her comment is dangerous, even though it may not be shared by a large number of Hindus: that the country does not belong to Muslims, and they could leave if they wanted to. It also showed how quickly the wounds of Partition could be reopened even after 60 years.
There are compelling arguments forwarded by both communities. This time it all started with the fracas over the Amarnath Yatra. Hindus questioned why there should be such an almighty reaction in the Valley to the transfer of apiece of land to the Amarnath trust for its temporary use for the Hindu yatris. Then came the bomb blasts, and many young Muslims were picked up for having "masterminded" the explosions, and there are varying police versions of the "masterminds".
Image: Kashmiri protesters shout anti-Indian slogans during a demonstration in Srinagar against the government decision to transfer forest land to the Amarnath shrine trust.
Photographs: Tauseef Mustafa/AFP/Getty Images
Also read: Amarnath fallout may engulf India
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