526 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
Dr. Deshmukh (Madhya Pradesh) : What are our sisters in this House, ladies or women ?
Dr. Ambedkar: I shall leave it to them to answer.
Therefore, as I said, in determining this question we have to take into consideration these various factors. One is this that our polling booths will be much nearer than they used to be. Secondly, there may be a good many people who on account of their physical disability will not be able to go to the polls. Are you going to deny altogether any kind of physical aid by way of transport to such people to go and register their votes ?
Shri J. R. Kapoor (Uttar Pradesh) : Make an exception in their case.
Dr. Ambedkar : As I said, I am not concluding the matter by expressing any dogmatic opinion. I am putting both sides of the question before the House. It is for the House to determine. Personally, I do not mind if transport is completely stopped; anybody who wants to vote may go on foot and vote. But we have got to consider this question that there are a large number of people who may not be in a position to go and we must make some kind of a provision for them.
Then I come to another point which is very important: obtaining of assistance from Government servants in the elections. That point is raised by Mr. Gokulbhai Bhatt and also, I believe by my friend Mr. Khandubhai Desai. I cannot help saying that this is a very important provision and in considering this the following points, I think, require attention. We must make a distinction between the right to vote and the right to take active part either in forming a political party or in helping an existing political party. So far as the right to vote is concerned, nobody in this country is denied that right; neither the government officers employed in the civil services nor the military personnel have any impediments placed in their way in the matter of exercising their right to vote. The only question that arises for consideration is this, whether they should be permitted to form an association of themselves for the purpose of starting a political party or