ROLE OF ......................... INDIAN DEMOCRACY 171
the Round Table Conference came immediately to my rescue and not to the rescue of the other side. I am very grateful to Mahatma for having extricated me from what might have been a very difficult situation.
My only regret is why did not Mahatma take this attitude at the Round Table Conference ? If he had shown the same consideration to my point of view, it would not have been necessary for him to go through this ordeal. However, these are things of the past. I am glad that I am here now to support this resolution.
Since the question has been raised in the newspapers as to whether this Agreement will have the support of the whole “Depressed” Classes community, I should like to make it clear that so far as I am concerned and so far as the party which stands with me is concerned and I am sure I am also speaking for the other friends who are present here that we will stand by the Agreement. Let there be no doubt about this.
Our only concern is this, whether the Hindu Community will abide by it. (voices : Oh yes, we will) We feel that the Hindu Community unfortunately is not an integral whole but, if I may say so, a federation of small communities. I hope and trust that the Hindus on their side will look upon this document as sacrosanct and work in an honourable spirit.
There is just one thing that I would like to say. I am very much obliged to all friends who took part in the negotiations, but I should like particularly to mention Sir Tej Bahadur Sapru and Mr. C. Rajagopalachari. Without Sir Tej Bahadur probably it, would have been difficult to carry through many of the points. I must confess that as the result of my experience of him for the last two years at the Round Table Conference that if there is any man in India who is above all communal prejudice it is Sir Tej Bahadur. His sense of fairness and justice is always a relief to all the minorities who hanker for securing some safeguards in the new Constitution.
I must also mention my friend Rajagopalchari. He came to our rescue when we were almost at a breaking-point, and had it not been for his ingenuity probably the Agreement would not