The Nehru Report and Muslim Rights — Page 129
[ 129 ] And in cases of reserved constituencies, the importance would centre around the question of political views. And if the method of election be that of joint elector ates with Reser�_ation of Seats, it is all the more certain, that no other consideration save that of political creed, would be raised inasmuch as the different Muslim candidates would have to capture Hindu votes. They would, therefore, be compelled to eliminate the question of religion altogether, lest their rivals should get the better of them with the votes of non-Muslim com munities. The fact should also be remembered that generally in elections there are more than one candidate standing for a constituency. He has to contest the seat some time with more than one rival. To say, therefore, that every candidate would urge his claim as a Muslim, and consequently, there would be an increase of communal feeling, is absurd. For all the contestants cannot, claim for votes on one and the same ground of their being Muslims. They shall have to urge other points, and these would be mainly political. And if it is here argued that possibly none of the Muslim candidates in a parti cular constituency may be in agreement with the Hindu view-point, how can we, then, reasonably expect a Hindu candidate from such constituency to obtain Muslim votes by fair means? I say ' fair �eans,' because in electi�n affairs voting is done secretly, and so it is quite possible to secure Muslim votes by unfair means. Voters may be persuaded to behave traitorously to their community with. . out the least fear of being exposed. A candidate, who is fraudulently returned, does not represent the country ; at best 1 he represents his sordid c r inbitions. (ii) As regards the second objection, it can be argued that Reservation of Seats will rather remove mutual dis-