PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 853
principle which had already been accepted, what would have happened to the Government. It is quite possible that the Government might have been lynched. But here nothing has happened. The Government is playing with the proposition.
The argument that has been brought forth by the Government is that if you create linguistic provinces, you will break up the unity of India. That has been the argument which one heard time and again from every member of the Government. Sir, I am surprised that such an argument should have been used. If anyone were to look up the Schedule of States attached to the Constitution, he would find that there are altogether 27 States filling up different parts—Part A, Part B and Part C. I am not taking into account Part D. Now, if you take up these 27 States, you will find that 23 States are linguistic States. Only 4 are multi-lingual. I should like to ask my hon. Friend, the Home Minister, whether he thinks that the 23 linguistic States which have existed from the very beginning of the Constitution have in any way done anything in order to disrupt the unity of this country. I would like him to answer that question. These 23 linguistic States have not been able to disrupt the unity of India. I am as keen as he is on maintaining the unity of India and I shall not support any step which will bring about the break-up of this country.
We have, by God’s grace achieved not only independence but also unity, and it is our bounden duty, no matter to what party we belong, to see that this independence and this unity is retained. But, to say, in the face of this fact, with
23 linguistic States, that linguistic States would break up the unity of India is to say something which is puerile. They must produce some very weighty arguments in support of their contention that they cannot pursue a policy of creating linguistic States.
Now, Sir, coming to the Andhras on whom this blessing is showered by the Government after such a long delay, what do they get by it ? First of all, as I look at the Bill, I do not, find anywhere mention about the capital of this new State of Andhra. The capital is the very life source of a State. I cannot understand how one can imagine a State without its capital. In fact, it is the capital that give life to the States.