Morning News
6th October 1956
Electorate Supporters ‘Enemies of People
ATA’s Charge Against W. Pak Leaders
They want to exploit Us, Mujib Alleges
By A Staff Reporter
East Pakistan Chief Minister Ataur Rahman Khan said in Dacca yesterday that those who supported and advocated separate electorates in Pakistan were the enemies of the country and the people. Addressing a crowded public meeting at Paltan maidan he hoped the National Assembly will decide in favour of joint electorates. He accused 90 percent of these “so-called leaders” of West Pakistan who have come to Dacca to advocate separate electorates of being anti-Pakistanis.
He said the propaganda for separate electorates was “a conspiracy to reduce us to a political minority”. The Commerce and Industries Minister, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman said the West Pakistan leaders who had come to Dacca to advocate separate electorates wanted to exploit the province. The meeting, which was held under the presidentship of the East Pakistan Awami League President, Moulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani, and which began with the slogans of “Hindu Muslim Bhai Bhaiæ, heard another speech by the Anti-Corruption Minister, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who said that whether the Awami League was in power or not, it would never tolerate any activities perpetrated to encourage hooliganism and to undo Pakistan.”
While strongly deprecating the campaign in favour of separate electorates the Minister warned those who had come to East Pakistan for propagating the principle of separate electorates. He said that the Government would spare no measure to see that good communal relation were maintained in the province.