The Riots of 1953 — Page 87
87 Q. When Khwaja Nazim-ud-Din was ill, did you preside over a Cabinet meeting in which certain decisions had been taken by a conference of the type you have referred. A. It may have happened. Q. Can you please recollect as to what was the subject-matter under discussion before this Cabinet meeting? A. All, that I remember, I could not be specific about it is that a declaration or an announcement on behalf of Government was put before the Cabinet. Khwaja Nazim-ud-Din Sahib was indisposed that morning. His Secretary or the Cabinet Secretary came to me and told me that they had called a meeting and that Khwaja Sahib would not be able to preside. About the subject-matter he said that it was a declaration that Government servants were not to use their influence or position for religious propaganda, but I do not know who had drafted it. Q. Did you issue a statement in respect of the Government communique of the 14th August 1952? A. Yes, the statement in Annexure I-A to the Home Secretary’s written statement has been seen by me. It represents the correct version. Q. Has this statement anything to do with your speech which you delivered in the Jehangir Park on the 18th of May 1952? A. No. Q. Did you have any talk with Khwaja Nazim-ud-Din before you delivered this speech in the Jehangir Park? A. Khwaja Sahib mentioned to me that several people had objected to my taking part in the meeting. Q. Did he say anything about your intended speech? A. He suggested that it would be better if I did not address the meeting.