Why Indian Muslim Politics is about to Change Forever

While a religion based political party for Muslims in secular India is not a politically correct thought; however, with a superficial secularism, no so-called secular political party has given Muslims little more than token representation. Ironically, all our secular parties have again and again proved to be communal at core.

“While it is not surprising that a so-called Hindu party like BJP does not give Muslims their due, the Congress, the Communists and various regional parties do not do that either,” Jagannathan writes. The Congress party has been successful in flocking the Muslim community - that is frightened by the periodic communal riots – under its political umbrella during elections, but to the detriment of their economic prospects.

Realizing the vote-bank politics of the Congress party, the other backward castes broke away from the Congress and now the Muslim community is increasingly becoming aware of this bitter truth and is in the struggle of finding a political identity for themselves to protect their interests. BJP’s attempt to create a Hindu vote-bank almost came into being during Ayodhya movement and post Gujarat post; however, “but a Hindu vote-bank that groups all castes under one banner was always an unlikely prospect – as the creation of several caste-based parties in the Hindi heartland and in the south shows,” the article says.

“Till we reach a minimum level of economic and social inclusion, the best we can hope for is a genuine coalition of castes and communities. An emerging coalition of regional Muslim parties is the missing link that will complete the picture in this decade,” the article concludes.