z:\ ambedkar\vol-02\vol2-10.indd MK SJ+YS 21-9-2013/YS-8-11-2013 762
762 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
Sir Samuel Hoare: I do not think it has been worked out, but I think they will be chosen not to overlap. The whole area of Madras will be divided up into
15 areas ; 11 of these, as I see it, will be of the ordinary kind.
- Dr. B. R. Ambedkar: Fifteen will be general ?
Sir Samuel Hoare: I make 11 ordinary, making 19 in all; 11 single members and four double members.
- Mr. Zafrulla Khan : May I put one question to Sir Findlater Stewart to clear up one aspect of it ? I merely want to understand it. Supposing a panel of four is chosen and then they proceed to contest or this particular constituency reserved for them amongst themselves. One knows if a contest comes forward, everybody will vote who can vote in a general constituency, but supposing three of them say : “We do not wish to contest this election,” would it be possible for them to withdraw before the election takes place ?
Sir Findlater Stewart: It is an interpretation of the Poona Pact.
Sir Samuel Hoare : What does Dr. Ambedkar say?
Dr. B. R. Ambedkar: That is the view, that it is not obligatory upon all four of them to contest.
Sir N. N. Sircar: That is the view, but that is not the language used.
Mr. Zafrulla Khan: Another aspect is, are the Depressed Classes in any of these particular constituencies bound to put forward four candidates ? Supposing they put forward only one, will the terms of the Pact be complied with ? What does His Majesty’s Government understand the Pact to mean in that respect ?
Sir A. P. Patro: The purpose of preliminary election will be defeated. What is meant by preliminary election is electing four people for a seat ?
Sir N. N. Sircar: Dr. Ambedkar will vouch that I am putting the interpretation which was understood at the time of the making of the Poona Pact. It was understood that the Depressed Classes should have the liberty, instead of electing four, to elect one only. In that case, automatically the one got through.
Dr. B. R. Ambedkar: That is quite right.
Mr. Zafrulla Khan: If they put forward four, one could withdraw.
Dr. B. R. Ambedkar: Yes.
†7488. Sir N. N. Sircar: May I get some facts before the Committee ? I am not putting any argument; I only want to put some facts so that the Committee can get them in a short compass. The communal decision is dated the 17th August, 1932 ?
Sir Samuel Hoare: August 16th.
- Sir N. N. Sircar: In my copy it is the 17th. One day does not matter. Under this award or decision the net result of that was, as regards the depressed classes, that they would vote in the general constituencies, and
†Minutes of Evidence, Vol. II-B, 21st July 1933, pp. 858-63. Correspondence referred to in this discussion in paras 7488 to 7509 is printed at pp. 707-14 of this Book.