The Nehru Report and Muslim Rights — Page 72
[ 72 ] torial limits of any province, the decision in such matte resting with the province concerned. Hav i ng enumerated these demands, I now procee d to discuss them severally, to see if they are legitimate, and if so, whether they are also essential. For, when deciding between rival claims, one has first to. see, whether or not, a claim has its basis in right; for, no one is j ustified, for the sake of his own interest, to force another to for ego his right. In the second place, it is equally important to see if the exercise of the right is also necessary ; for, it is not easy to decide a claim, unless the extent of da�age to the disputing parties, both in the event of its acceptance or re j ection, has been proper ly ascertained. As often as not, a sacrifice may be demanded of one to his disaster, while another per son. alrea dy master of the position, may be benef i tted by it. THE NEED FOR SPECIAL SAFEGUARDS. II think it wise to examine, at the very outset, if th conditions in India are such, as necessitate special pro tective measures for the Moslems, and if their continu ance as an isolated ininority is a necessity. I believe that it is a fact admitted by every Muslim, that under the present con d itions, the community cannot do without special safeguards. I have already stated that, of the many causes which tempt a ma j ority to oppress a minor ity, there are six main ones. Let us now examine if anY of the same exists in our country. A minority stands vitally in need of protective mea- sures under the following circumstances:- (i) Where the minori ty community held swaY over the country in the near or remote past, and the maj ority community believe, or are led to believe, that the minority had beer1 oppressing it.