812 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
I will now point out the disadvantages of its being applicable to Hindus alone. Firstly according to the Constitution of free India, we do not want communalism to grow. Ours is a secular state. Under these circumstances, the Government cannot make any law for a particular community. The lawyers can discuss a lot on this subject, but as a layman, I would only submit that in a State where religion has not been given any place or consideration, it is against all justice to frame laws for the followers of a particular religion alone, and such a step will always encourage sectarianism.
This Bill originated in the days of British rule. During that time, Hindus and Muslims were used to be kept apart from each other and everything was done to encourage communalism. Thus, the Bill started in that form. I want to submit as to why this remnant of the British period be allowed to stick on while we have thrown out all others so that there may be no discrimination against a particular section of the society.
Shrimati Durgabai : On a point of order, Sir I understand the hon. Member is raising the question of competency of this Parliament...
Some Hon. Members : No. no.
Shrimati Durgabai: At least that is what I understood him to say. If that is so, I wish to tell him that that issue had already been decided.
Mr. Chairman : I am sorry the hon. Member has not understood the point the Hon. Member was making. He never said that this House is not competent but, on the contrary, he holds that this House is fully competent.
Shri Indra Vidyavachaspati : Let me finish all that I have to say and then perhaps there will be no doubt in this regard.
By this Bill the Government want to achieve a big thing, that is they want to remove all injustice that is done to the women. I do not think there is any Indian social reformer who will not co-operate with the Government in this matter or who will not support this move. But I would like to ask one thing from those who want to remove this injustice done to the Hindu women. This is also an injustice that a man can marry four women at a time but a woman is not allowed to do so. This is an injustice. It Must go. Is this injustice done to Hindu women alone and not to Muslim women also ? I ask my sisters whether they will tolerate that justice should be done only to Hindu women and not to Muslim women ? This injustice done to them must also be removed.