240 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
An Honourable Member: Pandit Bhargava can deal with it.
Pandit Thakur Das Bhargava : Sir, I am very glad that all sections of the House have supported this measure. It is a measure of such a kind that I could not foresee with the highest flight of imagination that any sort of objection could be raised and I am very glad that this measure is liked by everybody. One objection has been raised and that is that since the Hindu Code Bill is on the anvil therefore, we should not proceed with this Bill. If the principles of this Bill and the principles which are the subject matter of the Hindu Code were antagonistic to each other, I could understand the objection, but where this measure proceeds on the same basis as the Hindu Code Bill, if we pass it in advance, it will really pave the way for the passing of the Hindu Code. I cannot understand how the passing of this will obstruct the passing of the Hindu Code—really it will accelerate its passage. May I enquire where is the law or rule or convention that if a Bill like the comprehensive Hindu code Bill is on the anvil therefore another Bill cannot be passed. There is no such convention. I cannot understand that if a measure is there which covers one of the points covered by another measure, therefore the second measure should not be passed.
Bakshi Tek Chand has pointed out that this measure was a subject matter of a Bill in 1919 and this measure is associated with the name of our revered President V. J. Patel. Now in point of time I think so far as Hindu Code is concerned, this kind of measure is much anterior. In a matter of this kind, these technicalities even if they be valid, should not be allowed to stand. What would happen to those thousands of men and women if this Hindu Code Bill is not passed and I think it is not going to be taken clause by clause this session and it may go on to September or October and not passed in this Session because it is a controversial measure and it may take a year; what would happen to those young men and women who desire to marry according to the provisions of this Bill and our activities which certainly conduce to the formation and consolidation of one nation ?
Sir, it is not a matter of joke. I am only helping Dr. Ambedkar whose marriage also will be legalised by this Bill. Why should he laugh at this ? This may or may not be applicable to him yet the disabilities if any will be removed. I know hundreds of people want to marry under this and is it wrong to marry under this rule ? I for one deprecate that anyone should place any obstacle to this Bill being