Religion has been the biggest obstacle to democracy. Democracy and secularism go hand in hand together. You cannot have one without the other.
Those that think a nation can describe itself as being both democratic and not secular are deluded. The major threat to civilisation is the rise of Islamic fundamentalism which has started a worldwide campaign against secularism.
India is not a perfect democracy, but, one has to give credit to Indian society for having a secular democracy in spite of the threat from radical Islamic fundamentalists both within it, as well as in Pakistan.