920 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
this important respect, which was and is still open to them. I agree with the Hon. Law Minister, though differing from him that this legislation is urgent, and immediate to be passed in this Parliament.
By all means do not take recourse to a plebiscite ; but the time is still there to make a reference to the State legislatures. After all, we are not going to pass this Bill in this Budget session. I may, in this connection, state that I for myself doubt the sincerity of Government regarding the need for passage of this Bill.
Several Hon. Members : No, no.
Shri Biswanath Das : My hon. friends who are anxious may say, no, no. I have a right to put forward my point of view in presenting my case before the Members of Parliament. If they were really anxious, it would not have come before this House for discussion for three days. What is the meaning behind it ? I must frankly confess that I am unable to understand how in a legislation of this nature, in respect of which there are wide differences among us and protests all over the country, the Law Minister or the Cabinet expects that these could be solved and the Bill could be placed on the statute book within three days as my hon. friend Mr. B. Das was claiming. I refuse to live in a fool’s paradise. A legislation of this nature, unless it is to be pursued through a party mandate, has to continue from day to day and each person being allowed to have his say in the matter and try to place his points, if possible, for the acceptance of the House. Under these circumstances, I very much doubt the wisdom of the Hon. Law Minister in allotting three days, and that in this Budget session when you have not only to pass the Railway Budget, and the General Budget, but have also forty or fifty important Bills that are pending. Government say that they are hard-pressed for money. The newspapers announce that fresh taxation is awaited. I do not know how far that is correct. If there is any speck of truth in that, I have a right to ask the hon. Members on the Treasury Benches as to what they have done regarding the passage of the Estate Duty Bill which is hanging fire for the last. one and a half years. I claim that first things should come first. What is the problem that you have solved up till now ? You have solved no problem ; but you have succeeded in creating problems. I believe, therefore, that Government, or at least the Law Minister is not anxious, nor is he very alert to see that this legislation is passed into law. If they were so, a special sitting, that was promised by the Leader of the House should have been conveyed, or a special session could be convened to discuss the Bill thoroughly and pass it into law.