558 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
Mr. Deputy Speaker: The question is:
In sub-clause ( 1 ) of clause 3, for the words “parliamentary constituency” substitute the words “House of the People constituency”.
The motion was negatived.
- Shri Naziruddin Ahmad : I believe that the Constitution has laid down that parliament may lay down the qualifications as well as the disqualifications. I suppose the Constitution likes that these articles should be taken advantage of. If Mr. Bhattacharya’s argument is going to be carried to its logical conclusion it will set at nought two, or rather four, articles of the Constitution relating to the Central and State Legislatures. I therefore submit that Mr. Bhattacharya has displayed more enthusiasm than wisdom in this respect.
Dr. Ambedkar: When the Resolution was moved by Prof. K. T. Shah some time ago in this House I pointed out to him that his Resolution was very vague, that he had not set out any category of people whom he regarded as specially qualified for standing as candidates to Parliament or to the State Legislatures. We have now from Prof. K. T. Shah distinct categories of people whom he regards as suitable candidates for election to parliament. That is undoubtedly an improvement, because we have got now concrete proposals to consider on their own merits. One thing is quite clear and that is that these are disqualifications for candidature. It means that if the amendment is accepted only a certain category of people who fall in one of the seven categories mentioned here will alone be entitled to stand as a candidate. I hope my friend. Sardar Hukam Singh realizes that although it is not possible to say what will be the total number of people who will become eligible for standing as a candidate if this amendment was accepted, there can be no doubt about it that the number of people who will become eligible for standing as candidates as compared to the vast number of the voters would’ be very small. In fact the effect of this amendment would be to create a sort of monopoly for certain people, who by adventitious
*P.D., Vol. 11, Part II, 14th May 1951, pp. 8687-90.