WHAT CONGRESS AND GANDHI HAVE DONE TO THE UNTOUCHABLES : APPENDIX VI 331
important elements in India’s complex national life. These others assert their right to be regarded not as mere numerical minorities but as separate constituent factors in any future Indian policy. The foremost among these elements stands the great Muslim community. They will have nothing to do with a constitution framed by a constituent assembly elected by a majority vote in geographical constituencies. They claim the right in any constitutional discussions to be regarded as an entity against the operations of a mere numerical majority. The same applies to the great body what are known as the Scheduled Castes who feel that in spite of Mr. Gandhi’s earnest endeavours on their behalf that, as a community, they stand outside the main body of the Hindu community which is represented by the Congress.
(11)
Extract from the Speech of the Right Hon’ble Mr. L. S. Amery, Secretary of State for India in the House of Commons on 23rd April 1941.
“India’s future Constitution should be devised by Indians for themselves and not by the British Government. India’s future Constitution should be essentially an Indian Constitution, framed in accordance with the Indian conception of Indian conditions and Indian needs. The only essential condition is that the Constitution itself and the body which is to frame it must be the outcome of agreement between principal elements in India’s national life.
(12)
Extract from a Statement by H. E. Lord Linlithgow, Viceroy and Governor-General of India on 8th August 1940.
“These are two main points which have emerged. On these two points, His Majesty’s Government now desire me to make then-position clear. The first is as to the position of the minorities in relation to any future Constitutional scheme. . .It goes without saying that they (H. M. Government) could not contemplate the transfer of their present responsibilities for the peace and welfare of India to any system of Government whose authority is directly denied by large and powerful elements in India’s national life. Nor could they be parties to the coercion of such elements into submission to such a Government.”