I AM A GREATER . . . . . . ANYBODY ELSE 239
“Unless we secure recognition as a minority entitled to protection and safeguards in the Constitution, this struggle will continue elsewhere in a different form. Then it will be time for the Provinces to launch a countrywide struggle against the unjust proposals of the British Government.”
Asked whether he had issued any directive to the Provincial organisations on the form they should adopt in carrying out demonstrations, Dr. Ambedkar replied : “we will leave it to the Provinces to adopt their own form of struggle. All these things cannot be discussed theoretically. Every Province has its own background and what may be effective form of struggle in one Province may not be suitable to another.”
Dr. Ambedkar said it was the intention of the Federation to continue the demonstrations at Poona in the present form of sending small groups to offer Satyagraha. “The main difficulty against a large-scale struggle in Poona at present is rationing,” Dr. Ambedkar added, “Otherwise, we would have had a very much bigger demonstration.”
Asked whether he provisionally planned to offer Satyagraha in the near future, the leader of the Scheduled Castes replied, “It is not necessary for a General to be present on the battlefield. I have got trusted lieutenants who look after the struggle and certainly when the development of events necessitates my presence there and my taking part in the struggle, I will be on the scene.
“At present I get all the latest information on the struggle from a personal messenger despatched daily from Poona.”
No Invitation from Gandhi
Dr. Ambedkar said he had tentatively planned to leave for Poona on Sunday “to see things personally”. He said he had received no invitation from Mr. Gandhi or any top-rank Congressmen “to open talks for a settlement of the affair”.
He added that the Federation, however, was willing to start negotiations with the parties concerned. Dr. Ambedkar continued : “I would like to point out clearly that the Scheduled Castes in this country think that Mr. Gandhi agreed to accept the long-term