SECTION I : Selected Letters

Gandhi Letter 97A : From Abdul Ghaffar Khan

July 12, 1947

I and my workers have been going about from village to village asking the people to remain absolutely non-violent even under' provocation on the part of the Muslim Leaguers. The Muslim Leaguers are daily taking out processions, raising highly objectionable slogans. They call us kafirs and resort to abusive language. I have been personally hooted. I feel that there is orga¬nized conspiracy between the Muslim Leaguers, the officials and the officers in the charge of the referen¬dum. Presiding officers have actively encouraged the passing of hundreds of bogus votes. In some places eighty to ninety per cent votes have been polled, a thing unheard of in any election, and more so on the basis of an electoral roll which was prepared about two years ago.
We have been working under very difficult and trying circumstances but have adhered to non-violence in thought, word and deed. How long a state of affairs like this can last, it is not easy for me to say. In a nutshell, the Muslim Leaguers backed by officials are out to create disturbances. We have done everything humanly possible to avoid a clash.
Another matter which is causing serious concern to us is the presence in our province of a large number of Punjabis who openly incite people to violence. Not only that, but they have also gone to the length of suggesting in public meetings that the top leaders of the Red Shirts should be done away with. They also proclaim openly that after Pakistan has been established, there will be a trial on the lines of the Nuremberg trial and all of them who are called as traitors will be hanged. Mr. Jalal-ud-din, M.L.A., (Hazara), stated in a public meeting that if any of the Muslim ministers visited Hazara, he would be killed.

Yours,
Abdul Ghaffar Khan

Abdul Ghaffar Khan, p. 445-46