z:\ ambedkar\vol-02\vol2-09.indd MK SJ+DK 21-9-2013 715
EVIDENCE : DR. B. S. MOONJE AND OTHERS 715
- Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : I just want to ask this question : I want to know whether you are aware that the Sub-Committee, after having finished its work in Poona, came back to Bombay and reported what it had done to the main conference of the Hindus which had appointed the Sub-Committee ?
Dr. Moonje : Yes ; it must have done.
- Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : I will put the question to Mr. Gavai, who I think was there. Mr. Gavai, you took part in the negotiations which resulted in the Poona Pact ?
Mr. Gavai : Yes.
- Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : I am not putting it in an offensive manner, but you at that time belonged to what is called the Raja-Moonje Pact Party ?
Mr. Gavai : Yes.
- Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : You were present in Poona ?
Mr. Gavai : I was.
- Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : When the Pact was signed, the Sub-Committee came back to Bombay and held a meeting under the presidency of Pandit Malviya and resolution was passed by the whole of that Committee, approving of the Poona Pact ?
Mr. Gavai : Yes,
Dr. Moonje : On these points that Dr. Ambedkar has asked me, may I not explain ?
Chairman : I think the Committee would prefer to hear the conclusion of Dr. Ambedkar’s examination. We will hear your explanation afterwards, Dr. Moonje.
- Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : After the Sub-Committee was appointed and it went to Poona to discuss this matter with Mahatma Gandhi, there was a Session of the Hindu Mahasabha held at Delhi between 24th and 26th September, 1932?
Dr. Moonje : Yes.
- Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : Under the presidency of Pandit Malviya ?
Dr. Moonje : No. Under the presidency of Mr. N. C. Kelkar.
- Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : Mr. Ramanand Chatterjee was present at the meeting in Delhi ?
Dr. Moonje : Yes.
- Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : Raja Narendranath was also present at this meeting of the Hindu Mahasabha in Delhi ?
Dr. Moonje : Yes.
- Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : Is it not a fact that this Pact was ratified by the Hindu Mahasabha at the Delhi Session ?
Dr. Moonje : Yes ; there is no question about that.
- Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : Mr. Ramanand Chatterjee is the leading member of the caste-Hindus of Bengal ?
Dr. Moonje : Yes.