z:\ ambedkar\vol-02\vol2-07.indd MK SJ+YS 21-9-2013/YS-8-11-2013 544
544 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
minorities direct, or, failing that that is, if that is impossible then. . . . . . . .
Lt. Col. Gidney: That is all we want.
Rao Bahadur Pannir Selvam: “Failing this” might replaced by “if this should be found impossible”.
Chairman: Yes, instead of “failing this”, “if that should be found impossible”. There is no reason why that should not be substituted, “if this should be found impossible”.
Lord Reading: What is the difference ? We are spending time over interchangeable phrases, that is all.
Sardar Ujjal Singh: Make provision for any other communities in the Federal Executive, and insert the words “important minorities” there. We might make some provision, somehow or other, not necessarily, but provision must be there.
Chairman: May I bring you up against the hard facts of the situation. You cannot, on a Federal Executive, have every minority.
Dr. Ambedkar: Let me make my position clear. In the Provincial Constitution, what we have done is, we have placed an obligation upon the Governor to endeavour to do it. He is not tied down, but in the endeavour he should certainly be allowed the freedom to select even from other important minorities. We are not tying him hand and foot in the making of the Constitution. All we have done is that we place an obligation on him not to select, but we place an obligation upon him merely to make an endeavour. Surely that is not tying him down hard and fast, and I submit that after the word “Muhammadans” the words “other important minority communities” should come.
Chairman: No, we have passed that point. We are now at the second point.
Sir A. P. Patro: May I refer to paragraph 13 ?
Dr. Ambedkar: I would suggest that my dissent be recorded from paragraph
Sardar Ujjal Singh: After the word “Muhammadans”, “other important minorities” should be added.
Lt. Col. Gidney: Why close it to the other minorities ?
Chairman: I really must rule. As I have said already, we are not closing it to the other minorities. I am quite willing to discuss amendments on the words as they are, but really you must not raise false issues. This makes a claim that the other minorities shall also be represented, but if this should be found impossible—that alteration has been made—then there will be a Minister. That is an accurate record of the claims which were made. Paragraph 12 agreed.
Dr. Ambedkar: I think our dissent should be recorded.
Chairman: Very well.
[Paragraph No. 12 as adopted finally by the Sub-Committee No. III (Minorities).]
- There was general agreement with the recommendation of Sub