The Nehru Report and Muslim Rights — Page 175
[ 175 ] us, and should listen attentively to what he has got lo say, for an opinion does not gain in strength by the sup port of fellow-thinkers, but by the criticism of opposets. The procedure should be that in that conference a dis cussion of the Nehru-Report should take place only on questions of principles, for that alone is possible in such a conference. After the principles have been decided, a sub-committee should be appointed to study closely the details of the recommendations, and to suggest improve ments and amendments, and to d1aft an elaborate scheme not confining itself to safeguards for Muslim interest alone, but traversing the whole field of constitutional ques tions ; and this draft should be presented to the next sit ting of the All-Muslim Parties Conference. If it finds un animous support from the Muslims or even from a majority of them, then it μiay be published. A complete draft of the constitution alone can be expected to create a stir in public circles ; a mere criticism cannot be ex pected to do the same. The stu created by the Nehru Report is also due to the fact of its being a complete proposal. Unless, therefore, we can put forward a com plete proposal by making necessary changes in the Nehru Report, in the eyes of the world we shall be regarded as adverse critics, and not as practical politicians. Another matter which is equally important is to con. . vene meetings in all towns and cities to pass protest re solutions against the Nehru-Report, and send reports of the same to the Government. For, leaving aside the ques tion of co-operation or non-co-operation, we cannot deny that the Nehru-Report has succeeded in creating a stir in government circles. And if the Muslims failed at this juncture to raise a strong and effective voice of dissent, both the Government and the public at large will per force be led to ascribe it to their appreciation and accept-