358 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
of the election. He said that the Scheduled Caste seats were won by the Congress. Yes, they were. But what I like to ask my Honourable friend is, does he care to examine the ways and means by which this victory was obtained by the Congress ?
Prof. N.G. Ranga : We are ready !
The Honourable Dr. B.R. Ambedkar: I would like to tell my friend of the ways and means that were adopted.
Sri M. Ananthasayanam Ayyangar : The usual accusation!
The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : It is not the usual accusation. It is a matter of proof which can be put to the test.
Prof. N.G. Ranga : Do not tread on doubtful ground !
The Honourable Dr. B.R. Ambedkar : My Honourable friend ought to know that in many places the Untouchable voters have not been allowed to go even to the polls. I am referring to a case in the Satara District, which ought to be familiar to many Members of this House because in that district there was in existence what is called a parallel government. The Scheduled Caste voters from
361 villages were taken to the village Katcheri by the Hindu villagers. They were asked whether they were prepared to vote for the Congress candidate. When they refused, they were asked to sit in the Katcheri and a watch and ward was kept around them. They were not allowed to move. I can give many cases.
Pandit Govind Malaviya : Yes ? please do !
The Honourable Dr. B.R. Ambedkar : Even the candidates of the Scheduled Caste opposed to the Congress were assaulted. Take a nearer case like that of Agra which has happened only recently. Fifty houses of the Untouchables were burnt on the day of election. Some twenty houses were looted in the absence of the voters who had been to the polls. In Cawnpore seven persons were murdered.
Diwan Chaman Lall (West Punjab : Non-Muhammadan): Who looted ?
The Honourable Dr. B.R. Ambedkar : Hindus. Those are the ways and means by which these elections have been won. (Interruptions). I would like to tell my Honourable friend that the test whether the Congress has won these seats, or whether the Scheduled Castes Federation, which I represent, has won these seats, is to be decided not by the final elections. It would be stupid to do so. In a final election