
Provisional Islamic Government of Bengal
The following is a resolution of the Congress of the All-India Muslim League. Let the world know that the Muslims of Bengal are unafraid of Syndicalist tyranny, and will not be cowed by the crimes done against our people.
RESOLUTION ON THE STATE OF INDIAN NATIONAL AFFAIRS AND SYNDICALIST POGROMS AGAINST MUSLIMS
While approving and endorsing the action taken by the Council and the Working Committee of the All-India Muslim League, as indicated in resolutions upholding a plan for Federation within India and a state of emergency due to the occupation of Bengal and subsequent persecution of members of this body and those civilians who share their faith, the All-India Muslim League resolves to compensate for prior inadequacies in resisting the occupying force known as the Bharatiya Commune with the formation of the Provisional Islamic Government of Bengal, henceforth to assume governing powers in Bengal until such a time as the disbandment of the illegal Bharatiya Commune and subsequent negotiations with the Viceroy on behalf of His Majesty's Government.
It further records its emphatic view that while the historic and long-lived Muslim population within Bengal is, under principles of international and Islamic law, worthy of self-determination, such a plan is feasible only upon creation of a true Federation; however, due to extenuating circumstances regarding the Dominion of India and His Majesty's Government, the Muslim league resolves that it is a necessity to form a provisional government to execute wartime measures and provide for rational and progressive governance against the Bharatiya Commune.
Resolved that it is the considered view of this session of the All-India Muslim League that aconstitutional plan would be workable in this country or acceptable to Muslims if it is designed on the following basic principle, namely, that geographically contiguous units are demarcated into regions which should be so constituted, with such territorial readjustments as may be necessary, that the areas in which the Muslims are numerically in a majority, should be grouped to constitute States in which the constituent units shall be autonomous.
That adequate, effective and mandatory safeguards should be specifically provided in the constitution for minorities in these units and in these regions for the protection of their religious, cultural, economic, political, administrative and other rights and interests in consultation with them; and in other parts of India where Muslims are in a minority, adequate, effective and mandatory safeguard shall be specially provided in the constitution for them and other minorities for the protection of their religious, cultural, economic, political, administrative and other rights and interests in consultation with them.
This session further authorizes the Working Committee of the Provisional Islamic Government to frame articles for governance in accordance with these basic principles, providing for the assumption finally by the respective regions of all powers such as defence, external affairs, communications, customs and such other matters as may be necessary; it further proclaims those areas within Bengal to be under the guidance of Islamic law and His Majesty's Government alike, both of which are never to come into conflict, with full religious freedom proclaimed for non-Muslims and their rights as free citizens with the private, public, and political sphere not to be infringed upon.
Lastly this session calls upon His Majesty's Government and Viceroys, as well as the nations of the world, to recognize the Provisional Islamic Government of Bengal as the legitimate, if temporary, governing body of Bengal.
Joy Bangla!
Signed in Tehran,
H. S. Suhrawardy
Chairman of the Working Committee
Provisional Islamic Government of Bengal