The Nehru Report and Muslim Rights — Page 13
CH APTER II. MUSLIM DEMANDS. Demands of the Lahc're Muslim League. _6 EFORE discussing the proposals made in the Nehru-- Report I propose to deal' with the demands of the Muslim community-what these are and why they are made. I have already stated that there are from the politi cal point of view two parties among the Muslims. Of these two groups, the party consisting mostly of the Punjab and U. P. Muslims holds, as their fundamental demands, that, in framing a future constitution for India. the following essentials must be kept in view :- 1. -A FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. Their first demand is that the Government of the country should be of the federal type, i. e. , the provinces should enjoy complete autonomy. Whenever and to whatever extent Britain waives her authority, the same should be given over to the various provinces. But since it is necessary to have a central organisation for the general administration of the country, subjects of com mon interest should be delegated to the Central Indian Government by the provinces. This will mean that the Central Government shall not delegate certain powers to th_e Provinces but on the contrary, in order to run an 1 organised Government, the Provinces shall delegate certain powers to the Central Government. If this principle be accepted and adopted in India as it has been _successfully