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DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
must show results i.e. to prove to the Hindus that the Untouchables are no longer independent of and opposed to the Hindus in the matter of religion and politics. My analysis of the causes may not be accurate. But there is no denying the fact that the Harijan Sevak Sangh is a political organization the aim and object of which are to draw the Untouchables into the Congress fold.
I can give only a few instances which strike me as important.
The Harijan Sevak Sangh holds Conferences of its workers. These Conferences were ostensibly “organized for the purpose of examining the progress of work in different linguistic provinces and for exchanging ideas and experiences.” One such conference was held in Poona in the first week of June
- It was found that this Conference had planned to pass a resolution asking Government to change the system of voting under the Poona Pact by substituting distributive system for cumulative voting. I have already pointed out how after its surrender marked by the Poona Pact, the Congress insisted upon the adoption of the distributive system of voting and how dangerous it was to the Untouchables and how it would have nullified the Poona Pact. The Congress failed. What the Congress failed to do the Sangh took upon itself to advocate knowing full well that it was opposed by the Untouchables. A strange resolution for a non-political body ! It is like a drunkard with a red nose trying to convince his neighbours that he is a teetotaler. The Sangh was prevented from pursuing the course by a demonstration of the Untouchables.
I am in a position to state that the Bombay Branch of the Harijan Sevak Sangh had followed the policy of black listing some of the Untouchable communities residing in Bombay, on account of its Anti-Congress attitude. Students from communities which were black listed were refused scholarships and other educational aids. The Mahar Community, which forms the spearhead of the political movement of the Untouchables and has all along fought with the Congress, was black listed and Mahar students were generally subjected to discrimination unless the student proved that he did not. share the Anti-Congress sentiments of the Community.
The last instance I would refer to has reference to Mr. A. V. Thakkar the General Secretary of the Harijan Sevak Sangh. Mr. Thakkar is also a member of the Backward Classes Board