PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 561
against him there is a candidate who has been a member of a legislative chamber for one year. Is there anything under which we are required to suppose that the electorate will not give preference to the second man and no the first ? Take each one of these ; they are free to stand aid if the electorate thinks that there is something in them more valuable from the point of view of giving greater efficiency to Parliament, I do not quite understand why the electors will not give preference to these people as against a mere voter who is a citizen and no more. It seems to me, therefore that on these grounds, this amendment is unnecessary and I oppose it.
Sardar Sochet Singh (P.E.P.S.U) : You have not said anything about the category of those who are able to read and write Hindi.
Dr. Ambedkar: I replied to it last time. I should have thought that that would certainly create complications. This matter was considered at great length when we were framing the Constitution. Why did we make a provision ‘after 15 years’ and not make Hindi to come into operation as a national language immediately ? Because, we realised that there were various parts of the country where Hindi was not the language of the people and therefore some amount of time must be given to the people to study. After having recognised that principle, suddenly now to derogate from it seems to me to be going contrary to the sprit of the Constitution.
The motion of Prof. K. K. Bhattacharya was negatived.
*Clause 4. —( House of the People membership ) .
Shri B. K. Das (West Bengal) : I beg to move.
In clause 4, after the words “Jammu and Kashmir” insert the words “or to the Andaman and Nicobar islands”.
Mr. Deputy Speaker : Amendment moved :
In clause 4, after the words “Jammu and Kashmir” insert the words “or to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands”.
Dr. Ambedkar: I accept the amendment.
*P. D., Vol. 11, Part II, 14th May 1951, pp. 8699-700.