950 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
is such a trifle that it can thus be defeated. I would say that the earlier it is defeated the better. So I differ from those who keep the elections before them and proceed with that point in view. I have recollections of 1923 and 1926 when the Swarajya Party went to polls for the first time. I was a candidate for the Central Assembly from the Zamindar party and it was being said that the Congress and zamindars were far apart, that zamindars would not vote with the Congress; but still nobody contested my seat. After that I stood again for the Council of State in 1925 and then too it was doubted whether the voters of the Council of State would vote for the Congress. Sir Manekji Dadabhai and Sir Hari Singh Gour opposed me, but I got three-fourth of the votes. Therefore, I do not consider the Congress to be a touch-me-not institution which may wane into a defeat if we pass such a Bill, which thought may continue to give us a constant fear of elections. I am of the opinion that if we are in favour of this Bill and if our leader, our Prime Minister, considers that it should be passed, it would be a mistake for us not to pass it for fear of elections. It is a different thing if we do not want to pass it. But if we do not pass it for fear of elections, there would be nothing worse than that. And I would say a word to those also who would not like to see it go through for fear of elections. If the Bill is not passed now, they shall find people saying that if the Congressmen were returned they would do such things as were not there even in the Bill. Such horrid pictures would be drawn before the people the like of which we cannot even imagine today. So we have not to deal with this Bill for consideration or fear of election. We have to deal with it on its merits. In this connection, I would reiterate before the Hon Minister what I have just said, namely, that the Bill has two parts—one of amalgamation and the other of social reforms. We are utterly opposed to many provisions of social reforms. I want that under the prevailing circumstances in the country all such provisions should be left out because their incorporation is inopportune. Things over which there is divergence of opinion should be excluded and those of amalgamation may be taken up. I make considerable distinction between these two things and wish the Hon. Minister to give sufficient heed to this suggestion of mine. I want that so far as amalgamation is concerned we should take that up as also the provisions with which we are not at variance and these provisions may be passed. Those provisions that are controversial and with regard to which there is going on a campaign