desire of the people of East Bengal; it was not the shelving of the question, but is was a very simple proposition by which it is expected that better results may emerge. There has been a demand from East Bengal for Bengali language, no doubt. The people of Bengal also want that people on this side-their brethren on this side should be educated and acquainted with their feelings, logic and justification. So, Sir, this postponement, to my mind, seems for the better and not for the worse as has been interpreted by my honorable friends on the opposition. Each one of them has spoken in the strain that they are the only advocates, fathers and forefathers of Bengali language; and the Muslims coming from East Bengal have no claim on Bengali language and have no love for that language. This is not their monopoly. They arrogate to themselves in certain matters to show to the world that they are the monopolists in these matters-in the matter of preservation of right in a democratic country; in giving rights to the people; in giving rights to the people for the freedom of speech and all that. But they should understand that we who are sitting here, who have got the responsibility to run the administration of the country, have got to be more responsible than those
(Interruption)
....Sir, what was the resolution that I moved in the East Bengal Assembly to which several honorable members on this side, including the Leader of the Opposition, have referred. This is a simple resolution:
"The reason for moving this resolution is that there has been a good deal of confusion among a section of the members of the public that the action that was taken by the Government yesterday was on account of the demand by the students for Bengali to be one of the State languages. The issue have been confused because so far as that demand is concerned, the students brought out two peaceful processions on two occasions and the Government did not interfere."
That was the occasion on which this resolution was moved. Then there was an amendment by a member of that Assembly-Begum Anwara Khatoon-to the effect.
"That it should be finally decided in the next session of the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan."
That was the amendment and my reply was:
"Coming to the amendment of Begum Anwara Khatoon there also I find that it is not acceptable because we are not the persons, we are not the authority to decide whether this matter will be taken up in the next session of the Constituent Assembly or not."
So this amendment was also voted down. It was not accepted. So what I meant by this resolution-and I still stand by that-was that this resolution should be forwarded to the proper authority, the President of the Constituent Assembly, who will deal with this matter according to the rules governing such matters in the Constituent Assembly, and this has been sent to the President. I do not know what will happen to that, but when this matter comes up before this House in due time, certainly I will mention the resolution
