Pakistan

THE Cover Story was informative (Pakistan in Turmoil, December 7). Musharraf has made it clear that he would go to any extent to cling to power. The United States is not going to intervene because it wants him in power for geopolitical reasons.

Shailesh Kumar Bangalore

IN the 60 years of its existence, Pakistan has never seen the full light of democracy. The political parties that are now fighting with the military regime never adhered to democratic principles when they were in power. General Musharraf is no different from his predecessors. In the face of the fundamentalists anger, especially after the Lal Masjid standoff, and the movement for democracy, he imposed an emergency in the name of restoring democracy and bringing stability to the strife-torn country.

If the U.S. thinks that its concerns have been adequately addressed by the General, it is mistaken, for, civilian rule, even if restored under pressure from the U.S. and the international community, may only be short-lived.

K.R. Srinivasan HyderabadDemocracy

C.P. Chandrasekhars column clearly indicates the metamorphosing of Prime Minister Manmohan Singhs thoughts (The dangers of democracy, December 7).This change is very much to the liking of the global business oligarchy which, owing to its financial muscle, `indirectly dictates the economic policies of most countries. It frowns upon democracy taking root in society and paving the way for the adoption of policies that progressively reduce social and economic inequalities. If these tendencies are not recognised and checked in time, democracy might give way to autocracy.

Kasim Sait Chennai* * *

IT is not clear why Prime Minister Manmohan Singh should now complain about his inability to go forward with his plans in the areas of economic policy and international relations when it was known to him while forming the government that the economic and foreign policies of his Left allies were diametrically opposed to those of the Congress. Ironically, the economic and foreign policies of the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party are almost identical and if they join hands, they could serve the nation better and provide a stable government.

M.C. Joshi LucknowJinnah* * *

IN his article, 1946: A fateful year (December 7), A.G. Noorani writes that Jinnah accepted the Missions Plan of May 16, 1946, which envisaged a federal India based on groups of provinces. It was wrecked by the Congress at the instance of Gandhi who demurred at the proposals from the very outset. Jinnah said in Nehrus presence on May 11 that if the Congress would agree to Groups of Provinces as desired by the Muslim League, he would seriously consider a Union.

In fact, Jinnah himself considered acceptance of a Union that would be strictly restricted to defence, foreign affairs and communications related to defence as a temporary arrangement until the establishment of a sovereign Pakistan.

This was stated in the Muslim Leagues June 6, 1946 resolution of acceptance of the Cabinet Mission Plan: In order that there may be no manner of doubt in any quarter, the Council of the All-India Muslim League reiterates that the attainment of the goal of a complete sovereign Pakistan still remains the unalterable objective of the Muslims in India for the achievement of which they will, if necessary, employ every means in their power, and consider no sacrifice or suffering too great.

The Muslim League resolution also stated that the basis and foundation of Pakistan were inherent in the compulsory grouping of provinces in Sections B and C by the Cabinet Mission Plan and the Muslim League would cooperate in the Missions scheme in the hope that it would ultimately result in the establishment of a complete sovereign Pakistan: It said: ...inasmuch as the basis and the foundation of Pakistan are inherent in the Missions plan by virtue of the compulsory grouping of the six Muslim provinces in Sections B and C, [the Muslim League] is willing to co-operate with the constitution-making machinery proposed in the scheme outlined by the Mission, in the hope that it would ultimately result in the establishment of complete sovereign Pakistan.

Jinnah also stated that acceptance of the Mission proposal was not the end of the struggle for Pakistan in a secret meeting of the Muslim League Council on the same day: Acceptance of the Mission proposal was not the end of their struggle for Pakistan. They should continue their struggle till Pakistan was achieved.

Thus, Jinnah himself stated that his acceptance of the Cabinet Mission Plan and its compulsory grouping scheme specifying three sovereign constitution-making bodies, was only a means to achieve his goal of a sovereign Pakistan.

Sadhana Gupta ThiruvananthapuramANNOUNCEMENT

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