z:\ ambedkar\vol-02\vol2-07.indd MK SJ+YS 21-9-2013/YS-8-11-2013 574
574 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
extent to which the thing is practicable. The two must come in together to a certain extent.
Dr. Ambedkar: We have decided that in our opinion an extension which covers twenty-five per cent of the population is desirable,
Chairman: You use such an elastic word as “practicable”. That is the difficulty I feel. You cannot put the two words in completely watertight compartments. What is practicable must react on what is desirable, and you use a very elastic word. I think it would be wiser to keep both there. We give a clear view of our indication by saying at the very outset that we look forward to adult suffrage as an ideal.
† Chairman: We had better take it line by line. Will anybody interrupt if they have an amendment to propose : “We recommend that, in addition to providing for this increase, the Commission should consider the introduction of a scheme by which all adults not entitled to a direct vote would be grouped together in primary groups of about 20,”—then it is proposed to insert “or in some other suitable manner”.
Is there any objection?
—“for the election of one representative member from each group, who would be entitled to vote in the Provincial elections either in the same constituencies as the directly qualified voters or in separate constituencies to be formed for them”.
“(Mr. Joshi, Mr. Shiva Rao, Dr. Ambedkar and Mr. Srinivasan regard these proposals as only ‘second best’ and consider that the immediate introduction of adult suffrage is both practicable and desirable.)”
Dr. Ambedkar: I should like to say that Mr. K. T. Paul was also of the same opinion as ourselves.
Chairman: That will be noted.
Mr. Joshi: I propose that instead of the words “second best” the words “quite inadequate” should be substituted.
Chairman: That is really a matter for you gentlemen. If you prefer those words “quite inadequate” instead of the words “second best”, that is a matter for you really. So it will read : “Mr. Joshi, Mr. Shiva Rao, Dr. Ambedkar, Mr. Srinivasan and Mr. K. T. Paul regard these proposals as quite inadequate and consider that the immediate introduction of adult suffrage is both practicable and desirable.”
Mr. Jadhav: My name also should be added to that list.
Chairman: A note will be made of that. Then it goes on : “Sir Cowasji Jehangir, P. C. Mitter, and Mr. Basu do not assent to the maximum or minimum we have suggested, but desire the discretion of the Franchise Commission to be entirely unfettered.” Obviously that is a matter for them to say what they want.
† Proceedings of the Sub-Committee No. VI (Franchise), p. 159.