z:\ ambedkar\vol-02\vol2-10.indd MK SJ+YS 21-9-2013/YS-8-11-2013 747
EVIDENCE : MR. J. C. FRENCH AND MR. S. H. MILLS 747
(19)
Mr. J. C. French and Mr. S. H. Mills on behalf of Indian Police
*16,904. Dr. B. R. Ambedkar: Mr. Mills, there is just one question I should like to ask you, because I am rather interested in getting your view of this matter. You stated somewhat emphatically that under the proposed Constitution in Bengal, Muslims and the Depressed Classes would be under the influence of the Congress ?
Mr. S. H. Mills: I think there is every chance of their being under the influence of the Congress —a percentage of them.
16,905. Dr. B. R. Ambedkar: You said about 20 of the Depressed Classes ?
Mr. S. H. Mills: Yes.
16,906. Dr. B. R. Ambedkar: I suppose it is not your suggestion that as it is today there are any Depressed Classes or there are any Muhammadans who are in sympathy with the terrorist movement ?
Mr. S. H. Mills: We have quite a large number of Depressed Classes who have been arrested as terrorists.
16,907. Dr. B. R. Ambedkar: From what community ?
Mr. S. H. Mills: We have had some from peculiar communities and there have been a number of Shahas ; then from Midnapore quite a number of the Depressed Classes have been arrested — particularly Midnapore.
16,908. Dr. B. R. Ambedkar: Shaha is not a scheduled caste of the Depressed Classes ?
Mr. S. H. Mills: No. In the Midnapore district there have been quite a number of the Depressed Classes who have been arrested.
16,909. Dr. B. R. Ambedkar: Now the next point that I want to draw your attention to is this : May I just put it ? Is it your experience, for instance, that a large community like the Namasudras in Bengal are in any way connected with the terrorist movement ?
Mr. S. H. Mills : Yes, they are.
16,910. Dr. B. R. Ambedkar: The next question that I want to ask you is this : You know that under the White Paper proposals the minorities of Bengal have separate electorates ?
Mr. S. H. Mills: Yes.
16,911. Dr. B. R. Ambedkar: Do you still think that, notwithstanding the separate electorates, the Congress will have any influence in the election of the members of these communities ?
Mr. S. H. Mills: I think it is highly probable.
16,912. Dr. B. R. Ambedkar: How would that influence be felt ?
Mr. S. H. Mills: Because the Congress having the terrorists behind them is very greatly feared in the Province, and that fear would tend to dominate them.
*Minutes of Evidence, Vol. II-C, 13th November 1933, p. 2043.