DR. AMBEDKAR AND THE HINDU CODE BILL 533
Shri H. V. Kamath : Does he accept everything that exists or does he want a change in anything at all ?
Mr. Deputy Speaker : The House is not concerned with changes other than in the Bill.
Mr. Naziruddin Ahmad : The question of change is an academic question. The question of changing the law has been as old as history. In fact there are temperaments who try to make changes simply because it is a change. They would effect a change on the mere ground that it is a change. There are others who will never agree to any change because any change is a innovation. This was discussed in a classical passage by Macaulay and he said that the best brains lie near the border line, between the two extremes. So a change in the law is not to be adopted merely for its own sake. Again, a strict adherence to the old law, irrespective of all considerations would be equally bad. The position is that you must march with the times and the overriding consideration would be that you must take the people with you. I am referring to moral right. Legal right we have. We have ample legal right to break any law we like and create any law we like. That legal right is assumed. I do not question it. But what moral right have you to effect a change…………….
Babu Ramnarayan Singh : No.
Mr. Naziruddin Ahmad: ………………affecting large classes of people—
30 crores—without their consent ? I am not here to oppose all changes. I am here to oppose any change which is not sanctioned by public opinion. What moral right have you to introduce drastic changes without their sanction ?
Shri L. Krishnaswami Bharathi: We have got their consent; we represent them.
Mr. Naziruddin Ahmad: You then raise a very important constitutional question. This House was elected for the purpose of drafting the constitution
Mr. Deputy Speaker : I am afraid so far as the constitutional issue is concerned there is already a ruling by the Chair. This is a sovereign body which can legislate on anything. If the honourable Member has other grounds he can go on.
Mr. Naziruddin Ahmad: I do not dispute the authority of the House. We have the right to destroy the Hindu society or Muslim society and blend them into something new devoid of religion. That