POONA: The Congress Working Committee held a further two hours session this morning [Sept 15] and passed a resolution urging the release of officers and men and women of the ‘Indian National Army’. The resolution also appealed to Government not to carry out sentences of death already passed on any Indian soldier or civilian in connection with any activities pertaining to the war. …The Congress Working Committee had another … discussion ... at the end of which two resolutions were released to the press.

By one resolution the Working Committee warned the United Nations that any commitments made by the present Government of India adversely affecting India will not be binding on the peoples’ representative Government. The other clarified the Congress attitude to the question of the right of self-determination.

[Meanwhile, as reported from Quetta,] Mr. M.A. Jinnah in a statement to the Associated Press today [Sept 15] said: “I am glad to learn … that the Govt of India is considering at present very carefully the treatment to be given to the Indian soldiers who had joined the enemy, and I hope that they will be dealt with leniency becoming a victor. ...”

Published in Dawn, September 16th, 2020