The Nehru Report and Muslim Rights — Page 106
c: I I A P T E R IX. Reservation of Seats on Population Basis. DETAILED STUDY (Continued). U, HE third demand of the Mussa1mans relates to the right of representation in proportion to the numerical strength of each community, except :n the case of very small minorities, who Rhould be granted representation somewhat over and above their dues. This concession. if allowed, should be reciprocal, i. e. , the Hindus in predominantly Muslim provinces should be granted the same concessions as the Muslims in predominantly Hindu. provinces. In other words, this demand se ks to secure to every important community the right of representation accord ing to its numerical !Jtrength, so that one community may not deprive the other of its legitimate rights through underhand tactics. The Nehru Committee holds it as politically un sound that the rights of any com1nunity should be de finitely fixed. The most that could be done, in their opinion, was to fix the proportionate rights of very smaH minorities. But it rlisapproves of the suggestion of giving to any community more than its due share of representation. It must be clearly understood that protection of rights in roatters connected with elections is effected by the reservation of seats ; that is, it is definitely laid down that a certain percentage of the total number of members must go to a certain community, and constituencies are also assigned where no one other than a member of the same community could stand as a candidate for election. . . .