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anarchy in the Punjab and Nehru's distress at communal violence |
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In the Punjab, on the other hand, anarchy is still prevailing though in Delhi order has at least been restored. Nehru has come out with a bitter statement expressing his sense of shame at these frightful corollaries to Independence. 'Ever since he had assumed charge of his office,' a press report says 'he had done nothing but try to keep the people from killing each other. All plans which he had drawn up for making India a prosperous and progressive country had to be thrown in the background.....' And it goes on, 'Pandit Nehru admitted that the Muslim League had done incalculable harm to India and that the country would have got freedom long before if there had not been the obstacles placed in their way by the League. A large number of Muslims might have acted as traitors to the country and punishment for all those who betrayed their Motherland must be severe; but people must not lose sight of a large number of Hindus and Sikhs also who, in the past, had acted treacherously. There were non-Muslims who had actively helped the British while they were suppressing the Indian patriots. What punishment would they suggest for them? Pandit Nehru asked. Real traitors, he said, were those who were disturbing the peace of the country and leading it to bankruptcy and ruin. |
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The Prime Minister then referred to the bad name that India was getting in countries abroad. He had always been visiting foreign lands and keeping contact with their people, but he could not do so now because India's name was mud.' He felt ill at ease even while talking to representatives of (99) foreign nations who occasionally came to see him. After all that had happened in Delhi and in other places, how could he raise his head before them?' Nehru ended by saying 'Your freedom is threatened today. If it is dear to you, then work whole-heartedly for the maintenance of law and order in the country. Your Government will be worth nothing if it is incapable of protecting the life of a loyal citizen simply because he happens to profess one particular faith.' |
