DR. AMBEDKAR AND THE HINDU CODE BILL 1145
Pandit Malaviya: Certainly. Many people have said it.
Giani G. S. Musaflr: I think it is our duty to ask for it.
Pandit Malaviya: It is an important point which, I hope, the Government will consider.
Mr. Chairman : May I ask the hon. Member if he does not consider it desirable that we should practise it before we preach to the others and would we not then have a better or stronger case ?
Pandit Malaviya: Madam, I do not want to be so impertinent as to argue with the Chair. I will only close now by repeating my appeal that Members of this House will rise to the requirements of the position of responsibility which they occupy and will deal with this measure with that sense of gravity which it deserves, so that the immemorial and hoary traditions and foundations of the life of the Hindu community may not be tampered with or destroyed in a lighthearted or profane manner.
Shri Jajoo (Madhya Bharat) : Madam, the question be now put. ( Interruptions ) .
Babu Ramnarayan Singh (Bihar) : I want to speak, Madam.
Mr. Chairman : I am not deciding the issue myself. I will leave it to the House. May I know what time the hon. Law Minister will take for his reply ?
Dr. Ambedkar: In view of the long speeches and the varied arguments advanced I would take about one and a quarter hours : possibly I might take even more, I do not know.
Chairman : If half an hour is taken for the amendments and the Law Minister is going to take one and a quarter hours for his reply we will have to conclude the debate by 11-30. Meanwhile if hon. Members are contented to confine their speeches to ten minutes, so that more hon. Members will be able to take part in the debate, I would like to conclude the debate precisely at 11-30.
Shri Naziruddin Ahmad (West Bengal) : It was decided that the amendments will not be put to the House at all.
Pandit Malaviya : The Deputy Speaker said that he would call upon the Law Minster at 11-30. But since we have the time, other Members may be given an opportunity to speak and if you do not think it necessary, the rule about ten minutes may not be laid down.