z:\ ambedkar\vol-02\vol2-07.indd MK SJ+YS 21-9-2013/YS-8-11-2013 540
540 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
“free exercise” etc. What he wants also is that he drew special attention to the fact that that was no use to him unless he also had protection for an infringement of these rights, and he leaves it there. Then you have to consider what the remedy is hereafter. That is as I understood him.
Dr. Ambedkar: That is my position.
Discussion on paragraph 4 of the Report
Dr. Ambedkar: I wish to suggest an amendment to the second subparagraph of paragraph 4. After the words “Depressed Classes” I should like to have the words added “barring a short initial period”. It would read “and would be acceptable to the Depressed Classes barring a short initial period”.
Chairman: I understood you accepted it provided there was adult suffrage ?
Dr. Ambedkar: I said that for ten years we should have separate electorate whether there was adult suffrage or not.
Chairman: “And would be acceptable to the Depressed Classes after a transition period” ?
Dr. Ambedkar: Yes.
Chairman: Do you agree that makes it more accurate ?
Mr. Chintamani: Are we to delete the proviso “provided the franchise was based on adult suffrage” ?
Chairman: No, we cannot alter the speeches that were made. But what Dr. Ambedkar said—he will correct me if I am wrong—was that if there is to be no adult sutfrage then they must claim separate electorates, but if there is adult suffrage then, after a transition period, they would abandon them. I cannot allow the accuracy to be altered.
Discussion on paragraph 12 of the Report
Dr. Ambedkar: Sir, I should like to have the following words added to paragraph 12 in the beginning : “The minorities and the Depressed Classes were definite in their assertion that they would not consent to any selfgoverning constitution for India unless their demands were accepted.” And then you can proceed : “There was general agreement with respect to recommendations,” and so on. Speaking for myself, I think I made it very clear at the time when I delivered my speech in this Committee that unless we were assured that we were safe in the new constitution, we could give no consent to any constitution involving the principle of responsibility. If other communities do not care to join in this, it would go as my own statement on behalf of the Depressed Classes.
Lt. Col. Gidney : I join in that statement too, Sir.
Chairman: Of course, the statement as a matter of fact was made, and it was made in a representative way, not merely as an individual statement. But if that is put in in this report, you will observe the effect of it, that one or two of you will be able to say : “Our claims have not been satisfied.” It is not a decision of this Committee, but it does put obstacles