Political Solidarity of Islam — Page 4
the last census and now when five years have elapsed since the last census was taken our numbers must certainly have swelled. But even if we are considered to number not more than one lac at present the Govern- ment, in view of the principle that minorities get representation in excess of their actual numbers, shall have to allot us at least one seat in the Legislative Council. Thus the number of the Muslim members in the Legislative would become less by one and if in view of exceptional circumstances as nomination. for instance, one more Ahmadi goes to the Council, Muslim seats which are generally considered to be 89 in the future provincial Assembly would be reduced to 87 and thus in a total strength of 175 members the Muslim majority would turn into a minority and Muslim interests as contemplated by the Ahrars would receive a severe set-back. But the well-known Persian adage, ("O Ayaz: know thy real worth") aptly illustrates the real position of these Ahrar leaders. Since when have they become the spokesmen of the Muslims ? Who has given them the right and the authority to exclude from the ranks of the Muslim Community whomsoever they like ? A vast majority of the Punjab Muslims do not attach to their opinions as much weight as they would to the opinion of a person of ordinary intellect. It is one thing for the Ahrar leaders to assert and claim that they are the real representatives of the entire 8 crores of Indian Muslims and quite another to prove and substantiate. such an extravagant claim. Could they tell us how many of these 8 crores of Muslims whose leaders and spokesmen the Ahrars claim to be, raised their voice of protest against the public statement that was recently issued by some very highly-placed Muslims regarding the Ahmadi v. non-Ahmadi controversy? As many as 9 or 10 members of the Legislative Assembly i. e. 1/3 of the total Muslim strength in that body appended their signatures to the above statement and even more members would, in all probability, have done so if they could get the opportunity. Some members of the Council of State also signed it. Almost all the members from Sind signed that statement, a majority of th~ Muslim members from Bihar also were among its signatories and so were a majority of the Bengal