The Nehru Report and Muslim Rights — Page 126
[ 126 ] Report, whatever its merits may be, has absolutely failed to satisfy this desire of the Muslim co,nmunity. Even if it leaves the door open for the Muslims to dominate some day in the Punjab and Bengal, yet it does not afford them an opportunity to contribute to the treasures of human civilisation by enabling them to develop for some ti1ne iu accordance with their past traditions. The cul ture of a people cannot yield its fruit, unless it is given an uninterrupted series of opportunities for self-expres sion. But under the Nehru Scheme, there is the pos sibility of the Muslim element, being totally eliminated from the Government in the Punjab and Bengal. / Sixth Argument. For full national development a people must be equipped with experience in all lines of work. This serves as an additional argument for reserving Muslim representation in the Punjab and Bengal on the basis of population. Evidently, in predominantly Hindu pro vinces the Muslims cannot be expected to receive train ing in higher statecraft. There are only two provinces where the Muslims may get such experience, viz. , the Punjab and Bengal, where the Muslims hold a majority position. And if in these two provinces also, the Gov ernment be purely Hindu, or comprise of a poor Muslim element, then the opportunities for training in higher state-craft would be practically non-existent for the Mus lims, and in consequence they are bound to suffer con. . siderably. The N. W. F. Provinces, Baluchistan and Sindh can hardly serve as training grounds, for the ob vious reason, that Baluchistan with a population of 4,25,000 only has at best the status of a municipal cor poration, and the other two provinces are, both from