WHAT CONGRESS AND GANDHI HAVE DONE TO THE UNTOUCHABLES : APPENDIX IV 311
right of accused persons to claim trial by either a European or an Indian jury.
S PECIAL C LAIMS OF THE E UROPEAN C OMMUNITY
A. —Equal rights and privileges to those enjoyed by Indianborn subjects in all industrial and commercial activities.
B. —The maintenance of existing rights in regard to procedure of criminal trials, and any measure or bill to amend, alter, or modify such a procedure cannot be introduced except with the previous consent of the Governor-General.
Agreed by:—
H IS H IGHNESS T HE A GA K HAN (Muslims) D R . A MBEDKAR (Depressed Classes) R AO B AHADUR P ANNIR S ELVAM (Indian Christians) S IR H ENRY G IDNEY (Anglo-Indians) S IR H UBERT C ARR (Europeans).
A PPENDIX IV
STATEMENT BY B. R. AMBEDKAR ON GANDHI’S FAST
Statement on Mr. Gandhi’s attitude at the Round Table Conference to the Untouchables and their demand for Constitutional Safeguards, 19th September 1932.
I need hardly say that I was astounded to read the correspondence between Mahatma Gandhi, Sir Samuel Hoare and the Prime Minister, which was published recently in the Papers, in which he has expressed his determination to starve himself unto death till the British Government of its own accord or under pressure of public opinion revise their opinion and withdraw their scheme of communal representation for the Depressed Classes. The unenviable position, in which I have been placed by the Mahatma’s vow of self-immolation, can easily be imagined.
It passes my comprehension why Mr. Gandhi should stake his life on an issue arising out of the communal question which he, at the Round Table Conference, said was one of a comparatively small importance. Indeed, to adopt the language of those of Mr. Gandhi’s way of thinking, the communal question was only, an appendix to the book of India’s constitution and not the main chapter. It would have been justifiable, if Mr. Gandhi had resorted to this ‘extreme step for obtaining independence for the country on which he was so insistent all through the R. T. C. debates. It is also a