PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 477
of the people. Now, it is said that Delhi should also be allotted one seat. As for Delhi, I submit that there should be no hitch to give this right to it. It is said that since it is the capital of the country, it cannot be given this right. Sir, I would submit that Calcutta too had a Lieutenant-Governor when it was the capital of India but the people of Calcutta enjoyed full rights. Then again, taking the case of Simla, it used to be the capital of India for some period of the year and being situated in Punjab, the Lieutenant-Governor also used to live there, but there had never been any difficulties about the two Governments functioning from the same place. Therefore, I am at a loss to comprehend the argument put forward that the people of Delhi should not be given this right on account of its being the capital of the country. I for one, feel that the people of Delhi should be given more rights because they are living in the capital itself. Shri Ramchandra had said : Sab te priya mohi yahan ke basi, mum dhamda puri Sukhrasi. (I love most the people of my own place which is the land of wealth and prosperity). He had said it for the people of Ayodhya. So when there is so much of hesitation in giving rights to the people of Delhi, I am afraid, other people will have to face even more difficulties. Therefore, in my opinion, it is most desirable to keep the people of Delhi contented as it is the capital of the country and it will not be wise to dissatisfy them in any way. It would have been more proper had we arranged to hold a plebiscite of the people of the area which we are administering.
Mr. Chairman: May I draw the attention of the hon. Member to the fact that we are not discussing the problem of Delhi but we are discussing the Representation of the People (Amendment) Bill ?
Capt. A. P. Singh : Since it is being enforced in Delhi also, I thought I might refer that Delhi should also be given these rights which we are going to have. I meant only that. Anyway, if it is so, I will not discuss that. My submission is only as to why smaller States like Manipur and Tripura should be refused these reforms of introducing responsible Governments. Aundh is one of the smallest states but it was the first state to have a responsible Government. Therefore I see no reason why other small States like Manipur and Tripura be deprived