482 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
supported by the majority of the Depressed Class people. In fact. the Munje-Rajah Pact is being strongly denounced by all most all the accredited leaders and leading organisations of the Depressed Classes in the country. The Congress and Mahasabha organs have, however, made a conspiracy to suppress all news about the vehement opposition, the pact is evoking,
It was Rao Bahadur M. C. Rajah, [1] who was strongly in favour of separate electorates when Dr. Ambedkar was advocating joint electorates and reserved seats, and it was through pressure from Mr. Rajah and the Depressed Class Organisation in the Madras Presidency, that Dr. Ambedkar had to set his personal views aside and to make a demand for separate representation at the Round Table Conference. He received support in his demand from Mr. Rajah, who in a speech only some weeks back gave his opinion that the salvation of the Depressed Classes lay only in Separate Electorates. His latest somersault was a surprise to all. He entered in to a Pact for joint electorates and reserved seats with the leader of Hindu Mahasabha without consulting the other leaders and the responsible organisations in the Depressed Classes in the different provinces. Nor, has he given any reason justifying his new policy. The fact Dr. Ambedkar was greeted with a rousing reception and was supported in his demand for separate representation by thousands of people recently at Madras itself, is sufficient to prove that Rao Bahadur Rajah lacks support even in his own Presidency. The evidence which is being given before the Franchise Committee also proves beyond dispute that an overwhelming majority of the Depressed Classes is in favour of Separate Electorates.
The Bombay Congress and Mahasabha organs have given out that Mr. B. J. Deorukhkar has sent a memorandum to the Franchise Committee signed by over five thousand people belonging to the Depressed Classes in support of the Munje-Rajah Pact. It has,
- Rao Bahadur M. C. Rajah —A Depressed Classes leader from Madras. President of All India Depressed Classes Association. Member of Madras Legislative Council. Member in the Central Assembly.