On the advice of Lala Lajpat Rai, the Panjab Provincial Committee has elected me President during Lalaji's absence. I feel I am not fit to shoulder the burden thus thrown upon me, but at the present time it is the duty of every one of us to unhesitatingly discharge the duties entrusted to him. I shall try, so far as it lies in my power, to discharge properly my duties. But my success depends on the co-operation and assistance of my brethren. So far as advice and office work are concerned, the help of every one is not necessary. Those of my friends in Lahore who have been doing the work so far are still ready to do it. But apart from this, there is other work for which I desire the assistance of every Punjabee. It is, our duty to change the present system of administration and wage a ceaseless struggle against the present system of government. In this struggle, our final victory is assured. Our path is that of righteousness. But certain conditions are necessary in order to reach a successful result. Mahatma Gandhi has chalked out for you the lines along which to carry on the struggle. The first essential is to promote amity and love among the different religions and nationalities. Out of their common love for the Motherland let Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs stand side by side, dressed in the same uniform of hand-made cloth viz., “Khaddar” and with the sole weapon of non-violent Non-co-operation in their hands. If you do so Mahatma Gandhi will return victorious. This is the only help I demand of you. If you do not offer me this assistance, it is clear that I too shall not be able to discharge my duties satisfactorily. Therefore, in accepting responsibilities of Presidentship, I make the following appeal to you:—
Let Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs alike become soldiers in the cause of your country’s freedom. Put on “Khaddar” and cast aside foreign clothes, burn them or send them out of the country. Stick to Non-violence. Do not lift your hand against any one. Do not hurt anybody's feelings.
At the present time your leaders like the Ali Brothers, Lala Lajpat Rai and Sardar Kharak Singh and many others have been arrested and are rotting in jail as a result of fighting in the cause of their country's freedom. If even now your patriotic impulses are not stirred and you are not prepared for little sacrifices in the form of boycotting foreign cloth, then I am afraid not only you will not be freed from subjection but you will bequeath to the coming generation a legacy of this subjection. This Divine help for setting yourself free will not come again for long. This is not the time to fail.