DR. AMBEDKAR AND THE HINDU CODE BILL 1169
to the Muslims—the Hindu Code Bill which has been professedly, deliberately, calculatedly intended to apply to what is called the Hindu community.
Shri J. R. Kapoor : Non-Hindus also.
Dr. Ambedkar : We have been, in making this kind of a legislation, observing a certain necessary procedure as a condition precedent. In all social legislation the Government usually—as a matter of convention and, if I may say so, binding convention—observes the rules of consulting the people affected before any particular piece of legislation is undertaken. Hon. Members well know that with regard to this very Bill there was a Committee which went round from Province to Province, from State to State, took evidence from every section, every community, individuals, organised people, to find out what their opinion was. Nobody can say that so far as this particular Bill is concerned, any Committee or Government at any time consulted the Muslim community—that we are going to enact monogamy and reform the law of divorce so far as the Hindus are concerned, that these are the provisions that we propose to apply to them, what have you to say about it ? No such step has ever been taken and I think it would be not only unwise but a most tyrannical piece of political action to subject the Muslim community to any such provision without their being consulted beforehand.
Pandit Maitra : Why did you not do it beforehand ?
Dr. Ambedkar : The reason why we did not is because some communities like the Hindu community needed the reform so badly—it was a slum clearance.
Pandit Maitra : You had not the courage to do it.
Dr. Ambedkar : This is a slum clearance.
Shri Syamnandan Sahaya : Did you consult the Sikh community ?
Dr. Ambedkar : Oh, yes. I am dealing with it. Do not be impatient. I have consulted them. Do not you make a mistake.
Shri Bhatt : Can the Hon. Minister state whether or not, if Parliament so desire, the opinions of Muslims and Christians may still be ascertained ? What is the obstacle to it ?
Dr. Ambedkar : The obstacle is that the meal has now been served on the table. Let us take it now. It will take time in inviting others. At the same time we do not have so much food as may be offered to others.