1204 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
Lastly, if any hon. Member feels that there has been sufficient discussion on a particular clause, he can kindly tell me. There of course, I have my discretion. If I too feel that the matter has been elaborately discussed or at any rate sufficiently discussed, I will agree to the closure motion. To that extent, there is discretion in me. hon. Members who make suggestions will kindly bear all these things in mind. I am making this statement because an impression is created out-side that notwithstanding the suggestions of hon. Members I am standing in the way and holding the pendulum back.
In this connection, may I also inform the House that I have received a letter from the Managing Editor of the Indian News Chronicle ? Yesterday, as the House will recall Shri Amolak Chand drew my attention to a cartoon appearing in this paper which described some Members as holding the minute hand and hour hand and withholding the progress of the clock, and the Deputy Speaker as catching hold of the pendulum firmly so that the clock cannot move this side or that side. The hon. Members are shown as looking up and not looking down and seeing as to who is the man that is really holding the clock back. That is the impression that was created by that cartoon. Since I made reference to this matter yesterday and it is practically a privilege of the House and I am only its spokesman, I would like to read this letter. It is written by Shri Deshbandhu Gupta, Managing Editor and runs thus :
“My dear Shri Ananthasayanam Ayyangar.
I am informed that you took exception to the cartoon which appeared in the Indian News Chronicle yesterday morning under the caption “putting the Clock Back”. You are reported to have expressed the view that the cartoon was calculated to cast aspertions on the Chair. I am very sorry that the cartoon has given cause for offence to you personally or in the capacity of the Deputy Speaker. The cartoonist assures me that it was remotest from his intention to show any disrespect to the Chair or to the House and joins me in assuring you of the desire of the Indian News Chronicle to uphold the dignity of both.
The theme of the cartoon as you will kindly see is to illustrate the current situation in Parliament in which in spite of the Chairman’s desire to regulate the debate so as to conform as nearly as possible to time schedule, some members participating in the debates have endeavoured to prolong the debate and thereby hold the progress of the Bill. I am assured by the cartoonist that in introducing the Deputy