DR. AMBEDKAR AND THE HINDU CODE BILL 1041
House either to accept the option or reject the measure. In fact I thought at one stage of accepting closure today……
Several Hon. Members : No, no.
Pandit Maitra : It is a most important clause, the very life-blood of the whole Bill.
Dr. Ambedkar : I am prepared to accept closure even on the tenth day.
Pandit Maitra : Do it on the 15th day. You make its application optional and we will pass it straightaway.
Mr. Deputy Speaker : On this clause at an earlier stage about 17 or 18 members have already spoken.
Shri Naziruddin Ahmad (West Bengal) : All that has been forgotten entirely.
Mr. Deputy Speaker : That is why I have allowed references to all clauses. The discussion has been on the details of the Bill as a whole and not absolutely confined to clause 2. We must see to the end of the discussion some time. I therefore, request hon. Members to confine themselves to those matters which arise out of clause 2 and the amendments to the clause. I do not want to curtail discussion but this kind of discussion will be endless. It so happens that whenever I call upon Pandit Kunzru to speak I have to make some suggestions to the House but they are not intended for him particularly.
Shri R. K. Chaudhuri : The Hon. Minister who spoke just now has to be answered and should we not follow him ?
Pandit Maitra : We have now been told that this Bill will be proceeded with in regard to its first two parts. You will realise easily that clauses 2 and 4 are the two fundamental clauses in the whole Code. After passing these two you can go ahead at the speed of the Frontier or Punjab Mail. The main point is the question of the applicability of the law to the communities mentioned. You should not be carried away by the mere fact that 16 or 17 Members have spoken. You are going to legislate for 30 crores of people and therefore a momentous measure like this has to be given serious consideration. If the Bill has been taken spasmodically now and then it is no fault of ours. They introduce it and at one stage when they meet with opposition they put it by. Then they gather strength and come back again. That is no fault of ours. If they had taken it up in a special session the House could have devoted its whole time and we would have been in a better position to know what we said on one day and what are our contentions now. It is not the old bill before us : It is a new thing that has come before us.