It was an epoch-making event in Indian history. It occupies a crucially important place in the history of modern Muslim India as the Hindu-Muslim conflict was shifted to the constitutional plane. The Muslims abhored Hindu domination. The Indian Council Act of 1892 had enlarged the Legislative Council both at the centre and the provinces. The coming of another instalment of reforms was now indicated in which the elective principle would be extended: The Muslims experiencing Hindu attitude during anti-partition agitation in Bengal became crystal clear about Hindu mentality. In order to safeguard their interests, the Muslims drew up a plan of separate electorates for their community and presented it to the Viceroy, Lord Minto at Simla on October 1, 1906.

The deputation consisting of 35 prominent Muslim leaders, led by the Aga Khan, was received by the Viceroy. In the address prevented to Lord Minto, it was urged that the position accorded to the Muslim community in any kind of representation, direct or indirect, and in all other ways affecting their status and influence, should be commensurate, not merely with their numerical strength, but also with their political importance and the value of their contribution to the defense of the Empire. It was pointed out that it could not be denied that the Muslims were a distinct community with additional interests of their own, which were not shared by other communities, and these had hitherto suffered from the fact that they had not been adequately represented. Six demands were made specifically;

In all local and provincial elections Muslim must be separately represented and theirrepresentatives must be separately elected by purely Muslim electorates.

The delegation suggested ways and means for safeguarding Muslim interests in municipal bodies and district boards, and the imperial Legislative Council through separate electoral representation. The Viceroy, in his prepared reply to the deputation’s address, assured them for their acceptance by the Home Government.

The real significance of the demands put forth by Muslims at Simla clearly indicated that Muslim minority had an entity which could not be merged into the Hindu majority. It was but a further step to demanding a separate state for Muslims India. Glimmerings of the Two Nations theory may well be seen in the demand for separate electorates.