We got freedom from the British Empire after a long struggle. The political movement to gain freedom from the British was started by the All India Congress. Later, All India Muslim League joined the movement as a separate entity. Congress was more organized and well established than the Muslim League. Mr Jinnah started his political struggle as member of the Congress in 1906 to win freedom for the entire sub-continent from the British rule. However, being a man of principles, he soon realized that the Congress was taking steps unilaterally that would favour the Hindu majority leaving Muslims in the lurch. It was at that point that he decided to join the Muslim League to gain an independent state for the Muslim minority.
Mr Jinnah was labelled a traitor for quitting the Congress. Nehru criticized his move and commented the Jinnah had joined an unorganized party that represented Muslims only. However, Jinnah had realized that the short-sighted Hindu majority would become another oppressor for Muslims after the British would leave. Therefore, he continued his struggle. Finally, the British gave in to his demands and agreed to the formation of a separate state. At that time, even some Muslims leaders disagreed with Jinnah and opted to remain part of India. However, today, 72 years after the creation of Pakistan, the action of the extremist PM Modi have proven that Jinnah was right. The clamp down and brutal curfew in Muslim majority regions since early August in Indian occupied Kashmir is a clear indication of the hate Hindu extremists have for Muslims in India. Now the citizenship bill, which singles out Muslims denying them of citizenship rights clearly proves that Jinnah had the vision to see that Muslims would be marginalized in a united India.
Raja Shafaatullah
Islamabad