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Dr. Ambedkar to Lord Wavell, Governor General of India
- Bhimrao R. Ambedkar, 22, Prithviraj Road, New Delhi M. A . Ph. D., D. Sc, Banister-at-Law, Dated, 3rd May 1946 Member, Governor General’s Executive Council.
Dear Lord Wavell,
The omission on the part of the Cabinet Mission to invite a representative of the Scheduled Castes to their Conference in Simla has given rise to many misgivings in the minds of the Scheduled Castes as to how the Cabinet Mission proposes to dispose of their demand for constitutional safeguards. As the situation is critical, I like to acquaint you with the reactions of the Scheduled Castes in this connection.
The omission to invite a representative of the Scheduled Castes to the Simla Conference is capable of many explanations. One explanation that appears to me to be plausible is that the demands of the Scheduled Castes are such that they do not require the consent of other parties in as much as they do not trench upon their legitimate rights. This is certainly so at least with regard to three of their demands, namely, (1) separate electorates, (2) proper representation in the Central Executive, and
(3) undertaking from parties to accept certain general principles in regard to the safeguarding of the interest of the Scheduled Castes in the future constitution as a condition precedent for an interim Government.
That the demands of the Scheduled Castes do not require the consent of other parties is a view which I had urged very strongly upon the Mission in the course of my interview on the
5th of April 1946.
*Source : Privately printed leaflet by Dr. Ambedkar. —Ed.