The Nehru Report and Muslim Rights — Page 12
[ 12 J But to revert to the subject, I once again challenge the pretensions both of the All-Parties Conference and of the Nehru Committee, and assert that neither the forrner was the representative of All-India Muslim public nor the latter of any section of it. The first was a conference of men of a particular shade of opinion and it appointed a committee from which Moslem representatives were practically excluded. lt was this committee which published a report which now passes by the name of an All-India Committee Report. It may, however, be urged that it is immaterial whether the conference or the corn mittee or both were representative bodies or not, and that what it really matters is the report itself. If the report pays due regard to the legitimate rights of all com munities, there is no reason why it should be rejected. Cer tainly not. I would gladly accept it if it would answer that description. But before entering into a consideration of the merits of the Report I cannot help saying that the mutual distrust, which has been the main cause of the present Hindu-Muslim tension, is not likely to abate and would rather be aggravated at the thought that while, in framing a constitution for the country, no regard has been paid to the question of Moslem representation, what chance is there of Moslem feelings be�ng respected, when local laws will come to be enacted in future. Now as the report is before us, let us proceed to examine both its merits and its demerits. Its perusal, however, I am grieved to confess, leaves me sorely dis appointed. I am led to the conclusion that the scheme, expounded by the committee, cannot be of any b,�nefi. t to the country. At any rate, it spells disaster for the Mussalmans.