ing in common with the Hindus of this country.

The fact that these claims are entirely fictitious
makes no difference; that every territory occupied by
Hindus is as much their homeland as the Muslims in-
habiting equally has no appeal; that the doctrine of
religious nationalism employed with the two-nation
theory is anachronistic and unrealisable does not
matter. <

Even the Sultans of Delhi never ventured to put
forward such a claim. It is put forward not by fana-
tic divines but by a shrewd lawyer who is expected
to know that it will be resisted This Disruptionism,
therefore, is not intended to be compromised but only
as a slogan to rouse the Muslims against the Hindus
so that thereby they may become a compact and ag-
gressive party in order to dominate the country. The
Britishers think that they could utilise this high ex-
plosive to their advantage. The Congress hoped to
extract its teeth by reason and good sense. Both are
now coming to realize that it is no mere phantom
but a grim reality.

(3)

Disruptionism is for the moment the most serious
impediment to the country's progress. It asks the
Congress to give up its demand for independence; to
forswear the demand for a federal centre and for a
democratic constituent assembly; and to withdraw the
August Resolution, 'which is inimical.'* To Britain,
threats are delivered from time to time not to do any-
thing to offend Muslim India on pain of facing 'strife,

Mr. Jinnah's letter, 23rd September, 1944.
65