PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 459
to confine myself to one or two points to which some hon. Members have already referred, because I think this is the only proper occasion to ventilate some feelings regarding Scheduled Castes as the same was done by others.
Not only this House, but the whole country is abundantly interested in the problems of the Scheduled Castes. Many of us who represent these classes in this House would not have been here but for the great work done under the leadership of the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi. At the same time, I must not omit to mention the great services that have been rendered by our great leader Dr. Ambedkar. I think Mahatma Gandhi, Mr. Jinnah and Dr. Ambedkar are the three personalities who have commanded the greatest admiration...
Shri Sonavane : And have divided the country.
Shri R. Velayudhan : ...and respect of the people and who have been able to shape the destinies and thoughts of people in this century.
Shri Sonavane : On a point of order, is all this relevant to the Bill?
Shri R. Velayudhan: Yes.
Mr. Chairman: The hon. Member who raised the point was heard uninterrupted. I think he would extend the same privilege to other Members also.
Shri Sonavane : My point of order has not been decided.
Mr. Chairman: The hon. Member may go on.
Shri R. Velayudhan: I am not going to enter into any controversial point. But, I must say that the Hon. Dr. Ambedkar who has brought this Bill as well as the greatest of political saints Gandhiji, who have done the greatest service to the down-trodden millions, the Scheduled Caste people, have got their respective places in the hearts of many in the country. Therefore, I think it was not proper on the part of some hon. Members to take this opportunity to fling a little mud on a leader who has got the greatest following among the Scheduled Castes even at this time.