472 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
scheduled caste of kolis who tried to assemble to consider some problems relating to their betterment were pounced upon by the landlords, fled hand and foot and locked up for about three days. If that is what the scheduled castes are to expect under the new Constitution, I am afraid we have to give the matter a very serious consideration. We have to admit the fact that our machinery has not yet geared itself to this new idea : they are still going along the same old rut and since not one scheduled caste is represented in the whole of the services, this sort of thing is allowed to happen. I was told of this incident not only by those people but also by people who contacted the police and the local congress committee which has taken the matter in hand with a view to doing justice to these people. But the Police feel that they will not be able to prosecute the offenders as no evidence will be forthcoming because those scheduled caste people, who are tenants, have been told that if they give evidence against the landlords, they will be howhere and that their lands will be taken away from them. That is why I feel that they should have representation, so that one of them at least will have a chance of coming here and expressing what they feel about the state of affairs. That will have a reaction on people who have not changed and who do not see the writing on the wall. I personally feel that unless we solve this problem, solve it of course in a spirit of friendship, unless this discrimination is done away with, the social order will go to pieces. I personally feel very strongly on this measure has been brought none too early.
Shri P. Y. Deshpande: (Madhya Pradesh) : I wish to draw the attention of the Hon. the Law Minister and of this House to certain legal aspects which have so far escaped notice. This Bill proposes to amend the Representation of the People Act of 1950 and it is brought forward with the object of providing representation to scheduled castes and scheduled tribes. My submission is that this has already been provided for in the Representation of the People Act, 1950. Section 3 of the Act, which is sought to be amended, provides for the