against going back on the Report. Consequently, Jinnah’s proposed
amendments were overwhelmingly outvoted. Thus, the Report proved to be a
non-starter and became a mere historical document.
The Fourteen Points (1929)
At a meeting of the Muslim League in Delhi on March 28, 1929. M.A. Jinnah
announced the ‘Fourteen Points’. Rejecting the Nehru Report, he maintained
that no scheme for the future government of India would be acceptable to
Muslims until and unless the following basic principles were given effect to.
They were as follows:
The future constitution should be federal with the residuary powers vested in
the provinces.
All legislatures and other elected bodies should be constituted on the
principle of adequate representation of minorities in every province.
A uniform measure of autonomy should be guaranteed to all provinces.
In the Central Legislature, Muslim representation should not be less than one-
third.
Representation of communal groups should be continued through separate
electorates.
Any future territorial redistribution should not affect the Muslim majority in
Punjab, Bengal and the North-West Frontier Province (NWFP).
Full religious liberty should be granted to all communities.
No bill should be passed in any elected body if three-fourths of the members
of any community in that particular body were to oppose such a bill.
Sind should be separated from the Bombay Presidency.
Reforms should be introduced in the NWFP and Baluchistan as in other
provinces.
Muslims should be given an adequate share in all the services.
Adequate safeguards should be provided for the protection of Muslim culture.
No cabinet should be formed without at least one-third Muslim ministers.
No change should be made in the constitution except without the concurrence
of the federating states.
Nationalist Muslim Party