DELHI: Mr. Liaquat Ali Khan, General Secre­tary of the Muslim League, declared … that if Congress should form a Government at the centre “we will resist it by all means and will make the functioning of such a Government impossible”.

“At the same time,” he said, “in view of the situation as it exists now, there will have to be a fresh start and a new approach to the whole subject,” of Indian independence.

The possibility of formation of a Government by Congress which has been discussed widely since the Muslim League withdrew its acceptance of the British Cabinet Mission proposals, would be a signal for the Muslim League to start its programme of “direct action”, the League Secretary said. “When people start disobeying laws they do so knowing full well the consequences.”

“Direct action means resorting to non-constitutional methods,” he explained, “and that can take any form and whatever form may suit the conditions under which we live …. There are only two ways of resisting a Government, by constitutional means and by direct action. We will resist it by any means and will make the functioning of such a Government impossible.”

Published in Dawn, August 4th, 2021