Abstract:
For the past decade or so there has been much speculation about the fate of Muslims and their place in Indian politics. This paper seeks to argue that the recent shifts in politics have caused the center of politics to move further to the right which in turn has precipitated a change in the politics of the opposition parties as well wherein there is a perception that Muslims have become political “untouchables.” I argue that this change also marks a shift from a position of marginalization towards one of exclusion and was catalysed by a number of political, cultural, legal, institutional and religious factors that will be elaborates upon in the paper. Furthermore, the possibilities of new forms of politics emerging out of these changes will also be explored.