The Qadian Diary — Page 72
Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad 58 from our own. In fact for upholding the principle of freedom of belief four Ahmadies were stoned to death in Kabul in the days of previous Amirs. 2. The community has always advocated that if in any possible way through settlement between the Muslim League and the Congress the country could remain united it should do so and India should remain un- divided. The present Head of the Community has recommended this ideal and argued for this in his numerous writings and speeches. 3. During the last Easter week-end, delegates from different Ahmadiyya centres met for their annual conference at Qadian, our headquarters. Communal rioting had started in the Punjab from early March. Opening the proceedings the Head of the Community said he would not be happy and therefore would not proceed with the agenda, unless he could be assured by the delegates that not only had they not taken any part in communal rioting, but had done something positive to save the lives of Hindus and Sikhs. Upon this, dozens of delegates stood up one by one and described how they were able to save the lives of non- Muslims. They also said that they could produce evidence for what they had done. 4. During the more recent riots many Hindus and Sikhs had their lives saved by Ahmadies. We have a list of about 300 for which we possess positive evidence. The Head of the Community and some of other central workers are now at Lahore. During their stay in Lahore, they gave protection to Col. Chopra who until some time ago was living in the same building