Resolutions of the Unity Conference

Lahore, Saturday, October 4, 1924

AS was to be expected, the resolutions of the Unity Conference on the subject of music at mosques, aarti and other kindred matters followed substantially the same lines as its resolution on cow slaughter. The principles in all these cases were mainly three. In the first place, there was to be no use of force in any form or shape. Secondly, every attempt was to be made by the community concerned to avoid giving offence or causing disturbance or annoyance to the other community. Thirdly, agreements between the communities were on no account to be disturbed. It is impossible to think of some sounder or more wholesome principles, and it is scarcely necessary to say that if these principles are strictly adhered to by the leaders themselves and rigidly enforced in the case of the common people both by precept and example, we can look forward to a better, happier and more peaceful era so far as communal dissensions are concerned. This brings us once more to the question of the machinery by which the decisions of the conference are to be enforced. So far, all that the conference appears to have done in this respect is to appoint a Central National Panchayat of five gentlemen, with the power to add to their number up to 15 and co-opt local representatives as additional members, whose business it will be to organise and appoint local panchayats in consultation with local representatives of different communities to enquire into and settle all disputes and differences and frame rules and regulations for carrying out this resolution.