The Qadian Diary — Page 100
Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad 86 persecution in the name of religious orthodoxy. As the division was in fact made, they had less reason for apprehension and had reasonable grounds for expecting a continuance of their peaceful existence. Events have proved the futility of such hopes. The fact that they were Muslims drew upon them the wrath and hatred of members of minority communities who had been forced to flee from the West Punjab and who sought to assuage their own wounds by inflicting similar sufferings on Qadianis. Measures taken for self- protection seem to have been regarded as evidence of aggressive intentions and steps were taken by the East Punjab Government, in total disregard of Ahmadiyya traditions and past behaviour, which largely left them at the mercy of their enemies. Only when self- defence became impossible was evacuation thought of, and most of the women, children and old men of the community resident in Qadian have been rescued under military escort. The remainder, nearly two thousand in number, are confined to the old town (village would be a better word), where conditions are almost insupportable. They are little better than prisoners. Their school and hospital have been “taken over” and many of their residential bungalows looted. The Government of India may declare, with what truth thorough investigation alone can reveal, that all its actions in connection with Qadian were taken with a view to its protection against seething hostility throughout the countryside. But its denial of allegations of arrest and harrassment is contrary to facts well established by independent observers. What is needed now from Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru are not disclaimers but positive constructive action which will prove to the world that the declarations of India’s spokesmen are not mere words and that the writ of the Government of India runs throughout the Dominion, even in the East Punjab.