822 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
the house usually the person gives me a copy. I do not know the reasons why he declined to do so.
When he wanted to make a statement I said that he may make a statement without any reserve at 6 O’clock but he did not choose to do so. I am, therefore, sorry that he did not avail himself of the opportunity. I wanted to clear a misunderstanding. I had also asked him before he stood on his legs to furnish me with a copy, which unfortunately he could not furnish. At 6 O’clock whether he furnished me with a copy of the statement or not I would have allowed him to make a statement orally in this House. He has not chosen to do so.
Shri Jnani Ram (Bihar) : The statement has already appeard in the press.
Mr. Deputy Speaker: I do not know. The House will not take any notice of it. .
The Prime Minister (Shri Jawaharlal Nehru): May I say a few words in this connection. It is a matter of regret to me, if for no other reason, for the fact that an old colleague should part company in the way that he has done today. I do not wish to go into the various matters that have arisen to which you have referred. I got a copy of that statement at
9-30 a.m. as I was sitting in my place here, about 45 minutes before he actually rose to make it. I read it with some surprise, because it was not the kind of statement that I had expected from a Minister resigning. However, there it was and it was my intention when he made that statement to say a few words, because it was not desirable nor permissible under the rules to have a debate on such a matter. I should just like, with your permission, to read out the letter of resignation sent to me and a few other letters exchanged before and after.
The first letter which I received from him.
Dr. Deshmukh (Madhya Pradesh) : On a point of order, if it was the desire of the Chair to give Dr. Ambedkar another opportunity then I think instead of the Prime Minister making any statement on this issue just now, it would be better to wait to see if Dr. Ambedkar is prepared to avail himself of the opportunity.