Jinnah's Accused for Partition

Jinnah's Accused for Partition Letter from Vallabhbhai Patel to Mountbatten - 3rd June 1947

Jinnah's Accused for Partition

Letter from Vallabhbhai Patel to Mountbatten - 3rd June 1947

My Dear Lord Mountbatten

I am deeply distressed at the abuse by Mr. Jinnah of the hospitality extended to him by All India Radio and his breach of the rules of Broadcast which, as you are aware, are almost as inviolable as the laws of nature. I had not seen the script before the broadcast but I notice later that not only did he depart from the script but he has also committed a sacrilege by making a political partition and propagandist broadcast. Had I known it in time I would certainly have prevented him from turning All India Radio into a Muslim League platform by not only justifying a movement which has resulted in so much bloodshed and destruction of property but also by appealing to Frontier voters to vote according to League persuasion.

I fully realise that you yourself did not expect, or had not sufficient notice to prevent it but I am really disappointed that he should have taken undue advantage of the courtesy and consideration extended to him by you, particularly on a solemn occasion when India and the whole world were watching us. I only hope that its consequences will not be equally mischievous and that he stood before the listeners self-condemned.

Yours sincerely,

Vallabhbhai Patel

Sardar Patel Correspondence - Vol 4