26 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
submission, therefore, is that if Indians are wanting a government which is democratic, which excludes autocracy, and which by law—not by convention only—imposes upon those who are in charge of the administration a collective responsibility, then my submission to the House is this : that you cannot devise a better form of government than the one we have. I know it has been said against this government that although that may be so, this government is subject to the veto of the Viceroy and of the Secretary of State……….
Mr. Jamnadas M. Mehta : No merely veto-orders.
The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : I call it veto ; you can call it orders. I would like to use a constitutional phrase as I am a constitutional man………
An Honourable Member : The master’s voice from Whitehall.
The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : What I said is that this government is not a free government; it is a government that is subject to the veto of the Viceroy, it is also subject to the veto of the Secretary of State. With regard to the veto of the Viceroy I would like to point out that the veto is confined to matters which relate to the safety and tranquility of India. It is not a general veto. It is not a veto which applies to the day to day administration of the country………
Sardar Sant Singh : May I ask one question.
The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : You must not ask any question now, I have got a very short time, I am going to admit for the sake of argument that there is a veto. I have read a lot of constitutions, not to be afraid of a veto………
Sardar Sant Singh : I am asking a legal question.
The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : You can ask me later. I have no time to give a lecture now.
I am perfectly prepared to admit that there is a veto and that the veto exists. My question to Honourable Members who are so much disturbed by the veto is this : what is the significance of the veto ? What does the veto mean ? Let me state it in the most categorical terms, because I find there is a lot of confusion in the minds of many Honourable Members who wish to talk about the constitutional question. What is the difference between an autocratic government and a responsible government ? What is the difference that exists in Germany under