The Nehru Report and Muslim Rights — Page 170
[ 170 ] prove upon it. We should not deny the compilers of this Report the credit of what is good in the Report, and should make patriotism and appreciation of services the motive of our work rather than jealousy and discord. Such a plan, I have every hope, will much facilitate our programme. We must not forget that the compilers of this Report with all their vast experience, and deep love for the country, were members of a particular religion and social circle, and it was natural that they should have leanings towards the same religion and society. We should, therefore, in dealing with them make full allow ances for this human weakness, and consider that if the decision had rested with us some of us might have been guilty of similar blunder. In my opinion, it is therefore meet in the interest of the country that we should deal with the Report in a spirit of criticism and not in a spirit of opposition. It is true that the Nehru Committee has stressed the point that its proposals, if accepted, should be accepted in toto. But the injunction is in no way binding upon the country. The Committee worked with the intention of producing something tangible. The task before us is to endorse the useful suggestions and to reject the rest. We have every right to make reasonable changes, and say to our compatriots, that as you have considered the best interests of your community, so we have deliberated over ours, let us now negotiate a setltement. RIGHT OF FRANCHI SE. In my opinion apart from the demands mentioned above, there are others that deserve similar consideration from an Islamic point of view. One of these is the ques tion of franchise. It is a very complex problem. / wish that the right of franchise should be extended to the