The Nehru Report and Muslim Rights — Page 68
( 68 ] own committees to solve their educational, religious and cultural problems, nor even has it been guaranteed that a re-distribution of provi. . . 1ces shall not take place in such a way as to adversely affect the majority position of the Muslims in any of the provinces. Again, nowhere has assurance been given that the few Muslim demands, that have been partially accepted now, shall remain intact even in the future. It has been laid down that • • Parliament may, by law, repeal, or alter any of the provisions of the con�titution. Provided that the bill embodying such repeal or alteration shall be passed by both Houses of Parliament sitting together and at the third reading shall be agreed to by not less than two-thirds of the total num ber of the members of both Houses. " ( J, T ide ,Vehru-Report. p. 123); ,. vhile in the same la,,v it has been recommended that Muslims should get only one-fourth of the seats in the Central Legislature ( Ibid. p. 54 ). Under these conditions even if no :\1uslim vote \vere to go over to the Hindus, and in addition even if five or six per cent. of the Hindu members were to pitch them selves against their co-religionists, even then, the Hindus can at any time withhold the rights that they are now con ceding to the Mussalmans; and it is in no way impossible for the Hindus to command two-thirds of the total votes. According to the Report, only 66l per cent. votes are required to effect a change in the constitutional law, and the Hindus are proposed to have 75 °; ) of the seats. Wi1l it then be difficult for the Hindus to effect a change in the constitution at any time they like, and leave the Muslims disillusioned? I think it has now been made abundantly clear that it makes no difference v v hether a majority is big or sma11, if there is a danger to its rights being infringed then there is always the need for protectvc 1neasures. And I have