NEW DELHI: “Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, who was once regarded as sympathetic towards Muslims’ aspirations is definitely hostile to them now. Today he speaks the language of a Hindu Mahasabhaite”.

This is the impression created among the rank and file of the Muslim League party about the Pandit’s speeches during his recent tour in the Punjab, Frontier and Kashmir. The tone of his speeches indicates that Pandit Jawaharlal has resolved to disrupt the solidarity of the Muslim League whose growing strength in the country he cannot bear. As regards the Pandit’s bitterness, which he has developed of late against Muslims, considerable surprise is felt in circles, which a few years back thought him to be progressive and tolerant towards non-Hindus. But now he is a changed man. His Hinduism has got the better of his progressive ideas and has virtually declared war on Muslim India.

Mr. Abdul Qayyum’s decision to join the Muslim League and his closest friend, Mian Iftikharuddin’s resignation from the Presidentship of the Punjab Congress Provincial Committee on the issue of Pakistan has created in him a feeling of frustration… [They] were top leaders of the Congress and their support for Pakistan … must have shocked Pandit Nehru.

Published in Dawn, August 29th, 2020