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HOW TO END INDIAN POLITICAL IMPASSE
“A plan for ending the political deadlock in India which would, at the same time, solve the knotty problems raised by the Pakistan issue and pave the way for the formation of a national government during the war was adumbrated by the Hon. Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, Labour Member, Government of India, in an interview to a representative of Tire Times of India, at Bombay, on Wednesday.*
“The Pakistan issue, he said, must be regarded as a preliminary issue. No steps can be taken for the framing of a constitution unless this issue is settled one way on the other. We have, hitherto, depended upon the leaders—Mr. Gandhi and Mr. Jinnah—to come to terms on this question, but they have failed. It seems to me now that the time has come when the decision of this issue must be taken by the people.
“I do not think Pakistan is an issue which the British Government can solve. It would not be right to ask them to do it, nor would it be justifiable for them to give a decision on it. The Pakistan issue is one of self-determination, and, as such, can be decided only by the people affected by it. If this position is accepted, it seems that an Act would have to be passed by Parliament called’ The Indian Constitution Preliminary Provisions Act.’
Referendum of Muslims
In that Act provisions should be made for the following points:—
( a ) a referendum of Muslims in the Pakistan areas exclusively to determine whether they want severnce of the predominantly Muslim areas from the rest of India; (b) a separate referendum exclusively of non-Muslims in Pakistan areas to determine whether they prefer to go into Pakistan or desire to remain in Hindustan; (c) if Non-Muslims decide by a majority not to go into Pakistan, a boundary commission to be setup to demarcate those districts in which Muslims predominate and those in which Non-Muslims predominate.
- The 12th May 1943.