“NO compromise of principles for the sake of Ministry-making.” This advice was given by Mr. M.A. Jinnah in a telephonic conversation from Shillong to the Punjab League leaders on Monday [March 4]. Mr. Jinnah was informed that the Congress President, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, has come forward with a formula for Congress-League coalition in the Punjab on the basis of parity between Congress and League. Mr. Jinnah is reported to have replied by saying the League cannot place a premium on treachery. The League negotiations with the Congress and Akalis are regarded to be hanging by a slender thread.

[Meanwhile, it was also reported that] With the authoritative announcement by Giani Kartar Singh that the negotiations between the Akalis and the Congress have finally broken down, the dream of getting a Congress-Akali-Unionist coalition with Malik Khizr Hyat Khan Tiwana as the quisling Premier of Punjab may be said to have been shattered. Enquiries conducted at midnight show that certain Congress leaders were still making frantic efforts to overcome the insurmountable hurdle for settlement between them and Akalis. This leaves the party position in the Punjab Assembly exactly as it was before the inter-party negotiations.

Published in Dawn, March 5th, 2021