360 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
elevation. One effect of Mr. Rajagopalachariar’s opposition will be to strengthen the opposition in the country to temple entry as a whole.
“All this makes me uneasy about the wisdom of our having been parties to the Poona Pact in the full belief that the Congress would really help in our attempt to secure social and religious freedom. I am forced to think that our entering the joint electorate with the caste Hindus under the leadership of the Congress, far from helping us, has enabled the Congress, led by Caste Hindu leaders to destroy our independence and to use us to cut our own throats.
“In the course of the debate, I asked Mr. Rajagopalachariar whether he had obtained your approval of the attitude which he so suddenly and unexpectedly assumed and the Speaker said that Mr. Rajagopalachariar will be given an opportunity to answer the question after I had done. Though he was given the privilege of speaking after me, he avoided the question and did not answer it at all.
“I trust that you will give your most serious consideration to this question of the attitude of the Congress Ministry in Madras towards Harijan uplift, especially with regard to temple entry and let me have your view before I answer my community men who are very much exercised over this question and are contemplating a repudiation of the Poona Pact and an agitation for a separate electorate accompanied by direct action of some kind.”
Mr. Rajah also wired to Mahatma Gandhi, Wardha on 12th September
1938 as follows:
“Agitation against Ministry rejection my bill growing difficult withstand pressure upon me—Anxiously awaiting reply.”
Mr. Gandhi replied to Mr. Rajah on 14th September 1938:
“Dear friend,
I must apologise for the delay in replying to your letter, I have been overwhelmed with work. Now I have your wire.
I wish you would trust C. Rajagopalachariar to do his best. He should be allowed to do the thing in his own way. If you cannot trust, naturally you will take the course which commends itself to you. All I know is that Harijans have no better friend than him. Go to him, reason with him and if you cannot persuade him, bear with him. That is my advice.”
Mr. Rajah wrote a letter dated 21st September 1938 to Mr. Gandhi stating:
“I should request you on the other hand to give more serious consideration to the pledges given to my community during the