352 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
Shri Deshbandhu Gupta: If the Hon. Minister gives an assurance that it will be modified, it is enough.
Mr. Chairman: Whatever it may be, the hon. Members who are frequently interrupting, I think, have had their say already, and their points of view have been taken note of. Now, let the Hon. Law Minister, who is now speaking have his say.
Shri Kamath: Does it mean that those who have not had their say can interrupt?
Mr. Chairman: No ; that does not mean that. Most hon. -Members will do well to take note of this.
Shri Shiv Charan Lal: Only one question. Will it be legal to give retrospective effect ?
Dr. Ambedkar: Oh yes ; undoubtedly.
Pandit Thakur Das Bhargava: May I ask one direct question ? Is the Hon. Law Minister satisfied with the terms of article 19(2) as he seeks to amend it ?
Dr. Ambedkar: I have explained the principle. If as I said, the language requires to be modified to give effect to the principle, there can be no objection. But, the principle is that they shall be revived.
Shri Deshbandhu Gupta: The Hon. Minister has not thrown any light on the removal of the word ‘reasonable’.
Dr. Ambedkar: It is not removed; it was not there.
Pandit Thakur Das Bhargava: But the other things were there. You have taken away all those safeguards.
Dr. Ambedkar: That is a different matter. That will be considered by the Select Committee.
Now, I come to clause 4 of the Bill. This clause introduces a new article 31A. Let us understand, first of all, what this article does. What this article does is to permit a State to acquire what are called estates. Secondly, it says that when any legislation is undertaken to acquire estates, nothing in the Fundamental Rights shall effect such a legislation. The merits