328 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
III. CONCLUSION
In conclusion, I beg to state that the grievances referred to in this Memorial are crying for redress. I have no complete information regarding the amount of Judi so far recovered from the Mahars. From the figure relating to Nasik district which have been supplied to me it appears that in the Nasik district alone the amount of Judi levied on Maharki lands so far under the new policy comes to about Rs. 2,201-4-11 per year. This has produced a great tension and I am afraid that if the grievances are not redressed the Watandar Mahars may go on a strike as per last resolution of the Haregaon Conference. I had advised them to suspend action in the hope that Government will alter their policy and do justice to them. But nothing has so far been done. I, therefore, request Your Excellency to treat this question as urgent and redress the wrong which is being done to these Watandars by the new policy launched by Government. If the Mahar Watandars affected by this policy go on a strike or come in conflict in the matter of the recovery of Judi by attachment of their property which I hear is going on in some places, the responsibility thereof will be on Government alone, inasmuch as the Mahar Watandars will have ground to say that they have tried to get their grievances redressed by constitutional means and failed.
I would respectfully urge that the policy adopted by Government in dealing with the Inferior Village Servants should be suspended. The issues involved are very large and controversial. They cannot be settled by the executive action of Your Excelllency’s Advisers, however competent they be. They can be settled only by the vote of the Legislature after all sides had the opportunity of putting their case. This is not possible now owing to the suspension of the Legislature. But the question is an old one and can wait for its solution. I am sure that the Mahars and other Inferior Village Servants will prefer to wait for a just and agreed solution.
‘RAJGRIHA’ DADAR, I beg to remain, HINDU COLONY, Yours Excellencey’s BOMBAY - 14 most obedient servant,
14th July 1941 B. R. AMBEDKAR.