432 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
simmering discontent. As a matter of fact, I do not feel inclined to disclose my identity as a member of the Legislature, of the Constituent Assembly, when I travel in a railway compartment, because the moment they come to know that, they start vigorously criticising us.
Shri B. L. Sondhi (East Punjab: General): Then go by air.
Pandit Lakshmi Kanta Maitra : I have started going by air. Quite true. There also I fare no better. I am not joking. I really feel that the country has become sick of us, disappointed of us because of our failure to do anything real for the common man. Hitherto there had been the Kashmir question. There is the question of commodity prices. Yesterday we had a brilliant performance with the unfortunate—enhancement of post-card rate and the price of cloth.
Mr. Chairman : The honourable Member may confine himself to the Bill.
Pandit Lakshmi Kanta Maitra : I am only saying that the rise in prices of commodities, labour strikes, the Communist menace, refugee problem etc. have been too much for the government. Is this the time for us to go on with this luxury of Social reform legislation, and a very highly controversial legislation at that ? It is sure to give rise to the bitterest acrimony; and as a matter of fact, it has already brought about a lot of acrimonious controversy. I believe honourable members have been already Hooded with literature ( Interruption ). Of course, from the AntiHindu Committee, and similar societies and associations from Calcutta and elsewhere. I have got protests from the Women’s Association in Poona, I have got protests from Women’s Association in Bengal, the members of which come from the highest aristocracy in the land. I have not known of any Bar Association in Bengal which has not protested against this. I have not known any Bar Associations which have supported this Bill. I have in my possession perhaps the whole literature that has been circulated so far in connection with this Bill. I have classified it and the dead weight of opinion is against it, qualitativley and quantitatively. I again say that the time is not opportune. At a time when, according to our Prime Minister’s appeal we should close our ranks, put our heads together, devote all our time and energy and work in amity and concord so that we may solve the problems of the land, we should not give another cause for disruption, another cause for discord or grouse or discontent in the country. I do feel nothing is to be lost if we shelve this Bill for the time being. If that is not done, then, of course, I promise that I will have to oppose this Bill at every stage. I oppose this Bill, because I feel that it is a wholly unwarranted measure and that there has been