330 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
possibly give to it. We have brought it forward now after that care, in the best form that we could give it, because we thought that the amendments mentioned in this Bill are not only necessary, but desirable, and because we thought that if these changes are not made, perhaps not only would great difficulties arise, as they have arisen in the past few months, but perhaps some of the main purposes of the very Constitution may be defeated or delayed. In a sense this matter of course, has been mentioned rather vaguely and has been before the public for some time. But in the precise form that it has been raised in this Bill, it came up only when I introduced this Bill in the House a few days ago.
Pandit Kunzru (Uttar Pradesh) : The Bill before us seems to be very simple, but it is nonetheless of a very far reaching character. It affects not merely the Constitution but also the spirit in which the Constitution is to be dealt with. A measure of such importance requires careful consideration and I think that we ought, all, to welcome the scrutiny to which it has been subjected by previous speakers. In order to justify the important changes that are sought to be made in the Constitution, Government should have taken care to supply us with full information on every point to tell us exactly why each particular amendment was needed. The Prime Minister spoke at considerable length but dealt, generally speaking with principles. When he dealt with specific matters he was very tantalizing; he did not throw much light on the reasons for the specific measure that the Government have placed before us. In view of this some other Member of the Government should have given us fuller information than the Prime Minister gave. Perhaps my hon. friend. Dr. Ambedkar would have been the fittest person to explain to us in detail the provisions of the Bill, particularly those which relate to the amendment of article 19 and the insertion of two new articles 31A and 31B. I have no doubt that he will take part in the debate. He will probably get up in the end in order to have the last word on the subject.
P. D., Vol. 12, Part II, 17th May 1951, p. 8896.