The Independence of India came with tragic communal violence engulfing the life of more than a million people amidst the demand of separate Pakistan and the threat of Direct Action. The demand of partition was finally met by Indian Independence Act, which created East and West Pakistan giving almost one third of the total Indian Territory to one fifth of the total Muslim population.

Exchange of population on both sides of respective. religious people could have been a pragmatic consolation of unrealistic and unwarranted partition but unfortunately lack of farsightedness and obsession with defective secularism did not allow us to do that.

The other alternative voice concerned about the rights of Hindu, Sikh and other religious minorities in India, vociferously proposed that both India and Pakistan must decide in consonance the rights of their respective minorities, Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee insisted that let Pakistan ensure the rights of its minorities then we must finalize our draft of minority rights.

Unfortunately such voices received deaf ears in the Constituent Assembly and finally by the signing of Nehru-Liaquat Pact on 8th April, 1950 in Delhi between Jawaharlal Nehru and Liaquat Ali Khan it was all over. This one decision surrendered the fate of the Hindus, Sikhs and other minorities of Pakistan in the hands of Islamic fundamentalists who targeted and persecuted them in every possible way.

Nehru-Liaquat Pact The Government of India and that of Pakistan entered into a bilateral agreement on 8th April, 1950 where they agreed to retain and ensure the rights of respective minorities in their territory which were left after large scale migration on both sides. It was highly criticized by a very large section of Indian political leadership, and Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee resigned from the Nehru Cabinet on 8th April itself before this agreement was signed in Delhi opposing this historical blunder.

Irrespective of such genuine concerns, the then leadership moved forward with the agreement which stated that-
The Governments of India and Pakistan solemnly agree that each shall ensure, to the minorities throughout its territory, complete equality of citizenship, irrespective of religion, a full sense of security in respect of life, culture, property and personal honour; freedom of movement within each country and freedom of occupation, speech and worship, subject to law and morality.

Members of the minorities shall have equal opportunity with members of the majority community to participate in the public life of their country, to hold political or other office, and to serve in their country is civil and armed forces. Both Governments declare these rights to be fundamental and undertake to enforce them effectively. The Prime Minister of India has drawn attention to the fact that these rights are guaranteed to all minorities in India by its Constitution.

The Prime Minister of Pakistan has pointed out that similar provision exists in the Objectives Resolution adopted by the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan. It is the policy of both Governments that the enjoyment of these democratic rights shall be assured to all their nationals without distinction.

Both Governments wish to emphasis that the allegiance and loyalty of the minorities is to the State of which they are citizens, and that it is to the Government of their own State that they should look for the redress of their grievances.