DRAFT CONSTITUTION 773
The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : It would take me very long now to got into a detailed examination of the whole thing and, referring to each article, say, this is the principle which is established in it and say, if any Government or any legislature of a province does not act in accordance with it, that would act as a failure of machinery. The expression “failure of machinery”, I find has been used in the Government of India Act, 1935. Everybody must be quite familiar therefore with its de facto and de jure meaning. I do not think any further explanation is necessary.
Shri H. V. Kamath (C. P. & Berar : General) : What about the other amendments moved by Professor Saksena and myself? Is not Dr. Ambedkar replying to them ?
The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : I do not accept them. I was only replying or referring to those amendments which I thought had any substance in them. I cannot go on discussing every amendment moved.
Shri H. V. Kamath : Dr. Ambedkar is answering only verbal amendments moved. Should he not reply to all the amendments moved ?
Mr. President : I cannot force Dr. Ambedkar to reply in any particular way. He is entitled to give his reply in his own way.
The Honourale Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : In regard to the general debate which has taken place in which it has been suggested that these articles are liable to be abused, I may say that I do not altogether deny that there is a possibility of these articles being abused or employed for political purposes. But that objection applies to every part of the Constitution which gives power to the Centre to override the Provinces. In fact I share the sentiments expressed by my honourable Friend Mr. Gupte yesterday that the proper tiling we ought to expect is that such articles will never be called into operation and that they would remain a dead letter. If at all they are brought into operation, I hope the President, who is endowed with these powers, will take proper precautions before actually suspending the administration of the provinces. I hope the first thing he will do would be to issue a mere warning to a province that has erred, that things were not happening in the way in which they were intended to happen in the Constitution. If that warning fails, the second thing for him to do will be to order an election allowing the people of the province to settle matters by themselves. It is only when these