Exit Sir Fazl-i-Hussain

THE disappearance of Sir Fazl-i-Hussain for the state of the Punjab politics, even though temporary, will undoubtedly make many people heave of sigh of relief , but only on one condition. It must mean the disappearance of Fazl-i-Hussainism. Indeed, it is the latter not the former that the non-Muslim section of the people of the Punjab are anxious to see disappear, not temporarily but for all time. So far as Sir Fazl-i-Hussain personally, Sir Fazl-i-Hussain minus his policy, is concerned, there is much in him that is worthy of commendation. It is this that has won for him the high appreciation of some distinguished public men outside the province, including Mahatma Gandhi. It is the policy for which he stands that has made him so obnoxious. Take away that policy and Sir Fazl-i-Hussain at once becomes what he was before he became a minister, a respected and trusted leader not only of the Muslims of Punjab but of the people of the Punjab as a whole. If, however, the policy remains while he himself leaves the province, not only will there be no gain, but there will be some unrecompensed loss in the removal from Punjab politics of a man of undoubted ability. It is for this reason that while commenting in our yesterday’s issue upon the appointment of Sir Fazl-i-Hussain as a member of the Government of India in succession to Sir Habibullah, we laid stress on the paramount necessity of His Excellency the Governor selecting some one to succeed Sir Fazl-i-Hussain as minister who would be prepared to follow a different and less aggressively communal policy. It must be frankly admitted that there is a dearth of such men among the Muslims of Punjab at present.