DR. AMBEDKAR AND THE HINDU CODE BILL 841
An hon. Member : Why did my hon. friend go there ?
Shri Naziruddin Ahmad : It is my business to be informed : not to suggest anything to them, not to control, guide nor mislead them. It is for me as a Member to ascertain public opinion. If I know that Hindu opinion moves in a particular way, even at the risk of being called backward I would bring it to the notice of the House. There is no point in trying to be fashionable and clever at the cost of commonsense and equity.
Some hon. Members asked me in an oblique manner, “Who says so ?”. They think that the Hindu community has accepted the Code and are agreeable to it. I come from Bengal. At the request of the Government of their opinion they said that they were opposed to it………….
Shrimati Renuka Ray (West Bengal) : What have they said now ?
Shri Naziruddin Ahmad : If they are changing, I do not know about that.
Shrimati Durgabai : You too must change along with them.
Shri Naziruddin Ahmad : I do not think they have expressed any recent opinion. Apart from rumours their legal opinion duly approved by the Government has been sent by their Judicial Secretary and it has been circulated to us. Any other opinion has not been circulated to us. If they have been circulated to the private ears of any Members I cannot take any notice of it here. The Government of Bengal is against the Bill. The big people are against it.
Shri Sondhi (Punjab) : They have compromised, I am told.
Shri Naziruddin Ahmad : I do not think they have put themselves in a compromising position at all. Go to any Bar Association and listen to what they talk. They are getting tired of it. The very eagerness with which the Bill is sought to be pushed through the House……………
An Hon. Member : Is it all relevant to the amendment ?
Mr. Chairman : I would draw attention to amendment No. 31. It is quite relevant.
Shrimati Durgabai : He is only repeating himself.
Shri Tyagi : Since the Hon. Member has alleged that the Bengal Government was against this Hindu Code I want to know from him if the Chief Secretary of the Bengal Government is opposed to it ?
Shri Khurshed Lal : He is not the Government of Bengal.
Shri Naziruddin Ahmad : The Government of India circulated the Bill and asked for opinion. The various State Governments gave their opinion and those opinions have been circulated to us. I have no private communication with the Bengal Government. The public