M.A.Jinnah's letter to Gandhiji, 25 Sept. 1944You have already rejected the basis and fundamental principles of the Lahore resolution .
You donot accept that the Mussulmans of India are a nation.
you donot accept that the Mussulmans have an inherent right of self-determination.
You donot accept that they alone are entitled to exercise this right of theirs for self-determination.
You donot accept that Pakistan is composed of two zones, north-west and north-east comprising six provinces, namely Sindh, Baluchistan, NWFP,The Punjab, Bengal and Assam, subject to territorial adjustments, that may be agreed upon, as indicated in the lahore resolution.
The matter of demarcating and defining the territories can be taken up after the fundamentals above-mentioned are accepted, and for that purpose machinery may be set up by agreement.
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As a result of our correspondence and discussions, I find that the question of India as pakistanand Hindustan is only on your lips and it does not come from your heart.
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Now, let me take your main terms:
a) "As stated by you,"
If this term were accepted and given effect to, the present boundaries of these provinces would be maimed and mutilated beyond redemptionand leave us only with the husk, and it is opposed to the Lahore Resolution.
b) That even those mutilated areas so defined, the right of self-determination will not be exercised by the Muslims, but by the inhabitants of those areas so demarcated. This again is opposed to the fundamentals of the Lahore resolution.
c) That if the vote is in favour of separation, they shall be allowed to 'form a separate state as soon as possible after India is free from foreign domination'. Where as we propose that we should come to complete settlement of our own immediately, and by our united front and efforts do everything in our power to secure the freedom and independence of the peoples of India on the basis of Pakistan and Hindustan.
d) Next you say, " There shall be .....parties."
If these vital matters are to be administered by some central authority, you do not indicate what sort of authority or machinery will be set up to administer these matters, and how and to whom again that authority will be responsible.
According to the lahore resolution, as I have already explained to you , all these matters, which are the life-blood of any state, cannot be delegated to any central authority or Govt. The matter of security of the two states and the natural and mutual obligations that may arise out of physical contiguity will be for the constitution making body of Pakistan and that of Hindustan, or other party concerned , to deal with on the footing of their being two independent states.
As regards the safeguarding the rights of minorities, I have already explained that this questions of safeguarding the minorities is fully stateds in the Lahore resolution. You will, therefore, see that the entire basis of your new proposal is fundamentally opposed to the Lahore resolution.
