918 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
right of this House to pass any legislation. But constitutionally, it looks to me odd to say that on such an important legislation as this, we are to be refused to take the mandate of the people. Is it because he is well impressed of the fact that the people on consultation would not allow him to go on with the legislation ? Otherwise, where is the need on his insistence not to put off legislation which is hanging fire so long and also to insist upon one question, namely, that it shall be passed only in this House. I ask why in this House ? What sin has this Parliament committed ? Is it because it is an indirectly elected legislature ? I would tell him that he is as good a representative as myself. I am elected by the Provincial legislature of the State of Orissa and he is elected by the State Legislature of Bombay. I have a right to ask the Hon. Minister whether he has consulted his electorate and whether he has got the mandate of his electorate in this regard.
Dr. Ambedkar : I do not want a mandate.
Shri Biswanath Das : You do not want a mandate. That is the sort of responsibility you owe to your constituency and that is the sort of constitutional notion that you want to inculcate into the people of our country. I will only refer my hon. friend to the Preamble of the Constitution which this House has enacted and to which my hon. friend, the Minister of Law has made a very notable contribution.
The Preamble of the Constitution says : “……to constitute India into a Sovereign Democratic Republic and to secure to all its citizens : Justice, social, economic and political ;…….” I want to ask him whether this is his sense of democracy to say “I refuse to consult the illiterate masses who have sent me here, who have given me the chance of representing the Province and which has given me the chance of assuming the reins of office as a Minister.” Sir, all this is under the Constitution. We assure all its citizens social, economic and above all political justice. I would join issue with my hon. friend if he says that he has not assured political justice to the people of the country, because he refuses to consult them, the very electorate that have sent him here.
Dr. Ambedkar : Next time they won’t elect me.
Shri Biswanath Das : It does not matter. You can stand by yourself. You do not need their vote and that is the reason why you find it an easy safety-valve.
Dr. Ambedkar : I care more for the Code than for my election.
Shri Biswanath Das : I am not thinking of my election. I am thinking of my responsibility as an elected Member of this Parliament.