The Nehru Report and Muslim Rights — Page 44
[ 44 ] order to get their present demands restored, they would have not only to attend the meeting of the Legislature in their full strength but also to win the support of at 1east 42% that is 234 of the Hindu members to vote in favour of their demand. . Not even a crack brain will venture to hope that so many Hindu members will be prepared to support the demand of the Muslims for the restora tion of certain right� which the Hindus themselves have usurped. In fact, I have under-estimated the difficulty. For, it is absolutely wrong to assume that all the mem bers of the Legislative Body will be present on any occa sion. That is never so even in European Parliaments. Of the 700 members, some will be ill, some will have sick relatives, and others will be detained owing to urgent business. Thus a margin of 20°£ should be left for ab sentees. Under the circumstances the Muslims shall have to secure the support of 60% of the Hindu members at tending. 1I ask again is there any Mu�hm, however blind in his support of the Nehru Report, who will be bold to say that if after a lapse of ten years it appears that the joint electorate system has proved detrimental to Moslem interests, which in other words would mean that the Hindus had captured more seats than their numbers would justify, or that such Mussalmans had been re· turned as instead of serving Muslim interests, serve the ends of the Hindus, then will 60% of the Hindu members of the Parliament vote with the Muslim members in order that the Hindu community should be deprived of this advantage and Muslims be restored the right of separate representation, or that complete internal autonomy should be conferred upon the provincial Government? ,lf not, and every sensible man will th1nk such an eventuality to be impossible, then I say, when it will be impossible to regain your rights in future, then why should you not press for the same now?