India and Pakistan
SIR,—On the eve of the meeting at Tashkent be- tween Ayub Khan and Shastri, President Ayub Khan says that he would be all friends with India if India would allow Kashmir to express its wishes. May we ask why, if Kashmir is allowed to express its wish, should many others anxious to join India not be allowed to express their wishes? One particular area in North Bengal. overwhelmingly Hindu, was due to be transferred to Pakistan according to the Rad- cliffe award. The people protested and approached Pandit Nehru to stop the transfer. He refused. Then they petitioned him and said that the Indian con- stitution did not permit the transfer. Pandit Nehru then moved for amendment of the constitution in Parliament to enable him to transfer the area to Pakistan. Then the local people appealed to the High Court and then the Supreme Court. They lost in both courts. The people then started evacuating to avoid being put in Pakistan.
The difference between India and Pakistan is seen very well here. No invasion, no talk of people's wish, but always abide by legal processes. Pandit Nehru even went to the length of amending the constitution to make the transfer possible.
H. SEN
76 Kansaripara Road. Calcutta-25
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