The Nehru Report and Muslim Rights — Page 154
CHAPTER XI. Separate Electorates. DETAILED STUDY-( Continued ) The fifth demand urged by the Muslim community relates to the retention of separate electorate system, under which the Muslim would elect their own representa tives, and the Hindus their own. Muslim opinion itself was, however, divided over this question. Some suggest ed the retention of the system so long as the Muslims themselves were not prepared to abandon it ; while others agreed to its abandonment in favour of the joint elector ate system on the fulfilment of their demands as discussed in the fore-going chapters, provided of course, that the rights of the Muslim community had been adequately safeguarded both iu the provinces as well as in the Central Government. The separate electorate system has been supported by a considerable number of Muslims, but so far as 1 1 have been able to gauge public opinion on the matter, all are agreed that it is a temporary measure. It is, there fore, superfluous to discuss the respective merits of the two systems. The only point to be considered is, whether separate electorate does really meet the present temporary need of the Muslim co-μimunity. In fact, its retention is necessary on account of the mutual distrust between the Hindus and the Muslims. I think no body denies the existence of such distrust. The only question now is what should be the system of electorate during this period of mutual distrust. Even the Calcutta League was of opinion that unless certain conditions were fulfilled, separate electorate system should not be dispensed with. •