The Nehru Report and Muslim Rights — Page 150
[ 150 ] of � he Christians. These form only J % of the total popu lation. So negligible a quantity has on the one hand little to fear from the Hindus, and on the other is hardly strong enough to come to the help of the Muslims. I take this opportunity to refute the argument put forward by many people in connection with the Hindu Muslim differences, namely, that in the presence of so acute differences, India should not be granted Self Government. In my opinion, when there are means avail able to protect the interests of the minorities, there is no reason why the same should not be adopted and India granted Self-Government. In several European coun�ries acute differences have been admitted to exist between different sections of the population, but even then with adequate safeguards for the interest of the minorities, new governments have been established. There is no reason, that the example of the European countries should not be followed in India. (2) INCREASED REPRESENTATION NOT INJUSTICE TO OTHERS. The Nehru Committee further contends that to grant the Muslim demand for increased representation would be doing an injustice to other communities. I do not under stand what the committee means by this argument, and I am afraid, nor does the committee itself understand what the argui:nent is meant to convey. For, as a matter of fact, there is no minority community, which is going to suffer as a result of giving increased representation to the Muslims. In the first place there is practically speaking no minority worth the name other than the Muslim minority· The Buddhists in ilndia are more a section of the Hindu community to-day, than a people independent and ap art. •