The Nehru Report and Muslim Rights — Page 127
[ 127 ] the view-point of population and of economic capacity, too poor to afford a Government machinery on as large a scale as the major provinces. For the all-round train ing of their talents, it is essential to afford the Mussal mans uninterrupted opportunities for training for such time as they do not make up the deficiency. That could be done only by reserving their places in the Punjab and Bengal. Otherwise, the Muslims will never be able to shoulder the responsibilities of government, and would in consequence, instead of adding to the country's strength, lie like a dead weight upon it. NEHRU COMMITTEE'S OBJECTIONS. Having discussed at length the grounds for securing to the MusEms their position in the Punjab and Bengal in exactly the same manner, as would the pos;tion of the Hindus be secure in predominantly Hindu provinces, I now proceed to deal with the objections raised by the Nehru Committee against the demand for safeguarding the Muslim interests. The Nehru Committee holds that, (i) safeguarding the rights of, and Reservation of Seats for majorities lead to an intensification of communal misunderstanding, because the election is held upon the artificial basis of ·1ifference of religion ; (ii) Reservation for majorities with joint electorates r�tards inter-communal unity, because it makes the majori ties independent of the votes of the minorities, and there fore indifferent to them ; (iii) Responsible Government means a Government in which the Executive is responsible to the Legislature. and the Legislature to the electorates. If the members of the Executive, ·. vho have the majority at their back, come to power by virtue of special safeguards, and not