Ahmadiyyat - The Renaissance of Islam — Page 260
260 AHMADIYY AT rapidly and on 13July it became so critical that it was sought to be resolved by the use of massive force, in consequence of which seventy-two people were killed and a"large number were wounded. When the Khalifatul Masih learnt the details of the tragic events he invited a dozen or so leading Muslims who were deeply interested in the situation in Kashmir to meet him at Simla on 25 July 193'1 for consultation over the situation in Kashmir. When they got together the Khalifatul Masih felt that there was a general air of despondence, mainly due to the fact that there was little hope of anything effective being achieved as the Viceroy of India, as the representative of the King Emperor, was bound to shield and support the Maharaja by virtue of the treaty relationship between the Maharaja and the Paramount Power. The Khalifatul Masih felt that despite all this some practical step must be taken which should convince the people of Kashmir that a body in British India was taking sympathetic interest in their affairs, and the Maharaja and his advisers should be compelled to recognize that the people of Kashmir in their struggle for securing their basic human rights had the support of a strong and active organization across the borders of the State. Finally it was decided that an All I~dia Kashmir Committee should be formed which should take all appropriate and feasible steps to secure their basic rights for the people of Kashmir, and that the Committee's activities should not cease till the full achievement of this purpose. Agreement having been reached on the setting up of the Committee all those who were present in the consultation expressed their eager- ness to become members of the Committee and thus the Committee came into being. Immediately thereupon Dr Sir Muhammad Iqbal, who was himself an eminent Kashmiri, proposed that the Head of the Ahmadiyya Movement should be elected President of the Committee. His proposal was seconded by Khawaja Hasan Nizami Sahib and everyone present acclaimed it. The Khalifatul Masih expressed strong disapproval of the proposal to elect him President, but assured the committee that he and his Community would