z:\ ambedkar\vol-02\vol2-09.indd MK SJ+DK 21-9-2013 735
EVIDENCE : MR. M.K. ACHARYA AND OTHERS 735
prevailing there a Naiyadi cannot walk along the road ?
Mr. M. K. Acharya: He can walk along the public roads today.
10,808. Dr. B. R. Ambedkar: And if he wants to sell anything, or buy anything, he has to place his goods or articles that he wants to sell some
60 yards away from the street and call out from there ?
Mr. M. K. Acharya: That is not correct information, so far as I know.
10,809. Dr. B. R. Ambedkar: I give you that information?
Mr. M. K. Acharya: That is not correct; I may deny it. I have been for many years in Malabar, and I know Malabar better than my honourable friend.
10,810. Dr. B. R. Ambedkar: The point I am going to ask you is something further. Assume my facts are correct ?
Mr. M. K. Acharya: When they are incorrect, how can I assume that ?
10,811. Dr. B. R. Ambedkar: The question is this : Supposing a law was passed making it a crime for any Hindu to prevent a Naiyadi from walking along the public street in Malabar, would you say that would affect the fundamentals of your religion ?
Mr. M. K. Acharya: As the honourable gentleman presumes on wrong facts, there is no such custom and there is no such law. If there were such a custom and if there were any need for such a law, then that law would not conflict with any fundamental of religion.
110,899. Dr. B. R. Ambedkar: I would like to clear up a matter. Mr. Acharya, you stated that Pandit Malaviya has repudiated the implications of the Poona Pact. I want to ask you a question on that : Is not it a fact that Mr. Gandhi says that the Poona Pact, apart from settling the political problem, imposed a certain obligation on the Hindus to abolish untouchability and to open the doors of the Hindu temples to the untouchables ?
Mr. M. K. Acharya: That is what Mr. Gandhi says, I think.
10,900. Dr. B. R. Ambedkar: Pandit Malaviya says that is not the case : that the Poona Pact does not impose any obligation on the Hindus to do that and it is therefore that he says he does not agree with the implications of the Poona Pact. Is not that the case ?
Mr. M. K. Acharya: Yes. That is so
10,901. Dr. B. R. Ambedkar: It does not touch the political side of the matter. Mr. Gandhi says the Poona Pact imposes an obligation on the Hindus to open the doors of the temples. Pandit Malaviya says there is no such implication at all ?
Mr. M. K. Acharya: Yes.
†Minutes of Evidence, Vol. II-C, 2nd August 1933, p. 1720.