988 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
Pandit Thakur Das Bhargava : A Bill to that effect has been introduced in this House by me.
Dr. S. P. Mookerjee : If such a Bill is introduced, at least the Law Minister will get support from Mr. Naziruddin Ahmad, but the real reason is that Government dare not touch the Muslim community.
Shri Bharati : Why ?
Dr. S. P. Mookerjee : You make a test.
Shri Gadgil : Wait and see.
Dr. S. P. Mookerjee : I am making a suggestion. Let the Law Minister declare that the Bill will be amended and the portion dealing with monogamy will be applied to Muslims.
Shri Rajagopalachari : Are we to make laws in order to test courage ?
Dr. S. P. Mookerjee : Laws are sometimes made to test the sincerity of individuals and Government and therefore the sincerity and the partiality of the Government including the Home Minister are very much in question today.
Shri Bharati : Not at all.
Dr. Ambedkar : No, no.
Dr. S. P. Mookerjee : I am not going to tread on this question because I know the weaknesses of the promoters of the Bill. They dare not touch the Muslim community. There will be so much opposition coming not from men like Mr. Naziruddin Ahmad but from many others throughout India that Government will not dare to proceed with it. But of course you can proceed with the Hindu community in any way you like and whatever the consequences may be.
Shri Rajagopalachari : Because we are the community.
Dr. S. P. Mookerjee : My appeal to the House and to the Government would be on a somewhat different basis. I do not wish to make my speech very controversial.
Shri Kamath : Why not ? Make it as controversial as you can.
Dr. S. P. Mookerjee : Because I want to create that atmosphere where matters affecting social reform can be discussed in a method of give and take. It is not a Press Bill which the Law Minister is sponsoring on behalf of the Home Minister. We do not want the Police to stand outside this Parliament to help the smooth passage of a Bill dealing with social reform. That does not really help anybody. Any Bill whose object