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88 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
Mr. S. Satyamurti: That policy is to get the best material and I am specifically asking my Honourable friend—I hope he realises the implications of that statement of the Punjab Premier. I want to know whether the Government have examined the dangerous implications of any provincial Premier claiming provincial supremacy in the Indian Army and whether they propose to take any steps to correct this dangerous misapprehension ?
Mr. C. M. G. Ogilvie : Government consider that there are no dangerous implications whatever but rather the reverse.
Mr. Satyamurti: Do Government accept the supremacy of any province or any community as desirable consideration, even if it is a fact, to be uttered by responsible public men and do not the Government consider that this will give rise to communal and provincial quarrels and jealousies inside the, army and possibly a military dictatorship in this country ?
Mr. C. M. G. Ogilvie : Government consider that none of these forebodings have any justification at all.
Mr. M. S. Aney: Do the Government subscribe to the policy implied in the statement of Sir Sikander Hyat Khan ?
Mr. C. M. G. Ogilvie : Government’s policy has been repeatedly stated and made clear.
Mr. M. S. Aney: Is it the policy that the Punjab should have its supremacy in the Army ?
Mr. C. M. G. Ogilvie : The policy is that the best material should be recruited for the Army.
Mr. M.S. Aney: I again repeat the question. Is it the policy of Government that Punjab should have supremacy in the Army ?
Mr. C.M.G. Ogilvie : I have repeatedly answered that question. The policy is that the Army should get the best material from all provinces and Government are quite satisfied that it has the best material at present.
Mr. M. S. Aney : Is it not, therefore, necessary that Government should make a statement modifying the policy suggested by Sir Sikander Hyat Khan ?.