ROLE OF ......................... INDIAN DEMOCRACY 129
Dr. Ambedkar and supported his demand for Separate Electorates, saying that Gandhi evidently did not know their woes, and there fore he had tried to force Joint Electorates down the unwilling throats of the Depressed Classes. Originally, the Rajah Party stood for Joint Electorates with reserved seats. But he changed sides. Rajah was the only Depressed Class Member in the Central Assembly, and he was not invited to the Round Table Conference. Perhaps grieved at this omission from the Round Table Conference, or greatly perturbed by Gandhi’s professed claim to represent the Depressed Classes, he had dropped the idea of Joint Electorates and insisted on Separate Electorates. And now he reverted to the original demand.” [1]
“Misleading Information
Mr. Gavai has taken an early opportunity to issue the following statement to members of Depressed Classes. Certain misleading information is being circulated to you that the Indian Franchise Committee cannot discuss the question of the system of electorates with individuals or associations that submit memoranda to it on behalf of the Depressed Classes. This is very misleading. For in the questionnaire sent by the Committee under the item representation of Depressed Classes in paper 2, it is clearly stated what specific proposals would one make to secure representation of the community in the legislature.
Those Model Answers
Moreover, I would suggest that our associations would be well advised to send in their own views with reference to their own provinces irrespective of model answers prepared by others. In view of coming changes in the Constitution of India as declared by the Prime Minister on 1st of December
1931 that complete provincial autonomy will be given to provinces. It is very necessary that our community, should also keep pace with the times and so we should reconsider the decision which we had arrived at before the statement of the Prime Minister referred to above.” [2]
1 : Keer, Pp. 195-196.
2 : The Bombay Chronicle, dated 27th February 1932.