164 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
Among the points agreed upon are stated to be the following :—
A panel of 4 for election to each seat.
A single vote.
The total number of seats in all Provincial Councils to be reserved for Depressed Classes would be between 150 to
155 as against 71 allowed by the Communal Award.
The Conference, which had met at Pandit Malaviya’s place, early in the morning, after a non-stop sitting of over thirteen hours, came to an end at 9-30 p. m., after which Pandit Malaviya, Sjt. C. Rajagopalachari, Mr. Jayakar, Dr. Sapru, Dr. Ambedkar and others left hurriedly for Yeravda jail.
The Conference attracted anxious crowds at Malaviyaji’s place. Even when the leaders rose at 9-30 p. m., no hope of settlement to-night was entertained.
Leaders are racing against time, and lunch after dinner today went side by side with discussions.
While they looked serious and absorbed earlier, boisterous laughter was heard emanating from behind the walls in the evening.
The Conference of caste Hindus and Depressed Class Leaders commenced at 9 o’clock this morning at Malaviya’s residence behind closed doors. The Conference, it is understood, covered much ground and came to a settlement on questions of panel for election, and basis of representation except in the United Provinces, though the final word on the matter is still unsaid.
Regarding panels, it is stated that a panel of four has been fixed as against Dr. Ambedkar’s understood demand for two and Gandhiji’s suggestion for five.
To anxious queries by pressmen late in the evening, Dr. Sapru replied : “discussions are so far satisfactory, and we propose to sit through it even in the night.”