Over the decades the Congress has used the Muslims as a captive vote bank, and preferred to move through their religious leaders, who are easier to handle, and done little to improve the lot of the community. The party has shied away from taking clear positions and ceased to go to the people and educate them about issues that are agitating them. As for the BJP's politics, it is only trying to sharpen the Hindu-Muslim divide in the hope of garnering Hindu votes.
A state that is tough on terror, without worrying about the religion of the terrorist, a police force that is professional, leaders who will engage with those sections of young Muslims who may be alienated (or for that matter of any other such group), parties who agree not to mobilise along religious or caste lines -- all this may seem like a pipe dream today. But we cannot stop hoping or continue trying.
Let's face it. No matter how angry the Hindu or Muslim extremists may feel with each other, 150 million Muslims cannot be wished away. They are an integral part of this country. That is why our founding fathers had insisted on secularism and democracy as the pillars of our Constitution. These are not luxuries for India; they are a necessity for our country to hold together. This is even more true today than it was 60 years ago.
Image: Muslims offer prayers at Jama Masjid in New Delhi.
Photographs: Tauseef Mustafa/AFP/Getty Images
Also read: It's time for the 'silent majority' to speak up
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