DRAFT CONSTITUTION 1129
Mr. President : I suggested to him not to move it. It rests with him to withdraw it.
Shri H. V. Kamath : I am not withdrawing it.
Mr. President : He says he does not withdraw it.
The question is :
“That in amendment No. 2 of the List of Amendments (Volume I), the following be substituted for the proposed preamble :—
“In the name of the God,
We, the people of India,
having solemnly resolved to constitute India into a Sovereign democratic republic, and to secure to all her citizens
Justice, social, economic and political;
Liberty of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship ;
Equality of status and of opportunity; and to promote among them all;
Fraternity, assuring the dignity of the individual and the unity of the nation ;
In our Constituent Assembly do hereby adopt, enact give to ourselves the Constitution.’ ”
Shri H. V. Kamath : I claim a division.
Pandit Govind Malaviya : I also want a division on this question.
Maulana Hasrat Mohani : I also want a division on this question.
Pandit Govind Malaviya : I want a division because I feel that we are doing an injustice to this country and to its people and I want to know who says what on this matter.
The assembly divided by show of lands.
Ayes: 41
None; 68
The amendment was nagatived.
Honourable Members : Closure, closure.
- Mr. President : I take it that closure is accepted. I shall now ask Dr. Ambedkar to reply.
The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : Mr. President, Sir, the point in the amendment which makes it, or is supposed to make it, different from the Preamble drafted by the Drafting Committee lies in the addition of the words “from whom is derived all power and authority”. The question therefore is whether the Preamble as drafted, conveys any other meaning than what is the general intention of the House, viz, that this Constitution should emanate from the people and should recognise that the sovereignty to make this Constitution vests in the people. I do not think that there is any other matter that is a matter of dispute. My contention is that what is suggested in this amendment is already contained in the draft Preamble.
*CAD, Vol. X, 17th October 1949, pp. 454-456.