The fact is, the Congress knows there is no problem with Patil’s secularism. It is just that it has now painted itself into a corner where the secular commitment of anybody is now to be certified by the Left. And what applies to individuals applies to policies as well. Those of us who had stuck our necks out and underlined the dangers of communalising our foreign policy can now draw some perverse I-told-you-so joy. Unfortunately, the same communalisation that distorted our foreign policy is now beginning to damage our internal security policy. It is a matter of time before it begins to blight our economic policy as well. The prime minister is much too wise not to figure that. But even someone as patient and skilful as he is may find it tough to cut through this ideological fog shrouding his party and government now. This continuing failure on internal security and reverse-communalisation of the entire UPA political discourse will strengthen Hindu communal forces, and any gain in Muslim votes, if at all, won’t come to the Congress, which now faces the old predicament of na khuda hi mila, na visal-e sanam.

sg@expressindia.com