The Nehru Report and Muslim Rights — Page 136
[ 136 J 458 mernbers, the Muslims in proportion to their popula tion are entitled to 247 seats and the Hindus to 211. The results. however, show that the Muslims could capture only 209 seats while the Hindus secured the remaining 249. In other words the Muslim population, which was entitled to a percentage of 54, gained only 45 seats, and the Hindu population with a percentage of 46 only cap tured 55 per cent. of the seats. If that is the prospect held out to the Mussalmans by the Nehru Committee, it is hardly an occasion for rejoicing. I admit that the Muslim position in the Punjab ap parently seems to be rather strong. The Punjab District Board statistics published by Mr. Afzal Haq Chowdhury, M. L. C. , would startle and convince many of the ability of the Muslims to hold their own in spite of educational and economic backwardness. The figures show that in proportion to their population, the Muslims \. Vere entitled to 443 seats, and in proportion to the:r voting strength to 363, but they were able to capture 408 seats, that is in proportion to their voting strength they wrested 4S seats more than their due. The Sikhs, on population basis, were entitled to 186¾ seats, and on franchise basis to ) 84¾; but they actually won 185 seats, that is slightly in excess over their right. The Hindus in proportion to their numerical strength ,1/ere entitled to 275¼ seats and on franchise basis 268, but they could capture 221 seats only. It has been accordingly inferred that the Musli1n population is strong enough to secure representation over and above its right. A WRONG STUDY OF FIGURES. In spite of the above figures, I am not prepared to. . . . � endorse the conclusion derived from them. I cannot help