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SCHEDULED CASTES IN PAKISTAN SHOULD COME OVER TO INDIA
New Delhi, November 27th, 1947.
“The Nizam deserves no sympathy in opposing union with India. I am anxious that no person from the Scheduled Castes brings disgrace upon the community by siding with one who is an enemy of India,” says Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, Minister for Law, in a statement extending to them an open invitation to migrate to India. issued today.
Regarding the status of his followers in Pakistan, Dr. Ambedkar mentioned that the Muslim League and its President had sided the Scheduled Castes only when it suited them and in view of the wrongs perpetrated on them, he suggested that they too should come over to India from Pakistan.
Dr. Ambedkar felt that the number of Scheduled Castes in India was so large and well-organised, they could not fail to influence the Government of the day.
He added : “I have received innumerable complaints from the Scheduled Castes from Pakistan and Hyderabad asking me to do something to relieve them from the distress in which they have been placed as a consequence of the policy adopted by Pakistan and Hyderabad towards them. In Pakistan, they are not allowed to come over to India and they are being forcibly converted to Islam. In Hyderabad also they are being forcibly converted to Islam in order to increase the strength of the Muslim population there. Further, there is a regular campaign carried on by the Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen by burning the houses of the Untouchables in order to strike terror into the hearts of the Scheduled Castes of Hyderabad so that they may never join the movement for responsible Government in Hyderabad and compelling Hyderabad to join the Indian Union.
Open Invitation
“All I can do is to invite them to come to India. For, the condition of the Scheduled Castes in India is as it is in Pakistan. In