বাংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্রঃ প্রথম খন্ড
and demand its removal, it is forthwith expunged and ceases to have any validity. There is no such thing in Islam which, therefore, cannot be called democracy in this sense of the term".
My friend, the Honorable Sardar Abdur Rab Nishtar, the other day said, ‘What is in the name? I also say, what is in the name? Name may be given to mislead people but it will smell theocracy.
The Honorable Sardar Abdur Rab Khan Nishtar (West Punjab:Muslim): Do you know what treatment was meted out to this man by the Government? He is in jail.
Mr. Sris Chandra Chattopadhyaya: That is a different matter. Further he goes on:
"A more apt name for it would be the kingdom of God which is described in English as 'theocracy'."
I do not know much of your theocracy or Surma. But he told me many things about Islam.
And then you will also find this:
"No law can be changed unless the injunction is to be found in Gods shariat. Laws are changed by the consensus of opinion amongst the Muslims."
So, if any law is to be changed, it is to be changed by the vote of the Muslims only. Where are we then? We are not Muslims. There are, I find, many safeguards in the Resolution. I do not attach much importance to them words are there but there is no law which will allow them to be put into practice. That is the limitation. If the non-Muslims cannot vote, then what is the good of our coming here for framing the constitution? Even if we have the right to vote for legislation but if some non-Muslim wants to be the President of the State, he will not be able to do so. If we want to elect somebody who is a non-Muslim, he cannot be elected by us to be a member of the legislature. We may vote, but we can vote for Mr. Nishtar only and not for Mr. Sris Chandra Chattopdhyaya, who is a non-Muslim. I know you can pass this Resolution because you are in the majority and I know the tyranny of the majority. But we cannot be a consenting Party to it; we must oppose it in order to safeguard our interests and not to commit suicide by accepting this Resolution. If that is so, what is the position of non-Muslims in a Muslim State? They will play the part of the second fiddle-the drawers of water and hewers of wood. Can you expect any self-respecting man will accept that position and remain contented? If the present Resolution is adopted, the non-Muslims will be reduced to that condition excepting what they may get out of concession or pity from their superior neighbors. Is it equality of rights? Is it wrong if we say that the non-Muslims will be in the position of Plebeians? There may not be patricians and plebeians in the Muslim community, but the question is between the Muslims and non-Muslims.
[Mr. Sris Chandra Chattopadhyaya.]
The much about this Resolution. Now, Dr. Qureshi has attributed fear complex to the non-Muslims and has found a new dictum of behavior for the minority. He has given a warning to the non-Muslims and has asked them to discard fear and behave well. What does our conduct show? We are not afraid of anybody. We, the Congress people, were
