242 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
Before his return to Bombay this evening, Dr. Ambedkar addressed a very largely attended public meeting of Scheduled Castes in Poona, at which he said struggle would be continued ‘to the bitter end.’
No fewer than 569 Scheduled Castes volunteers have so far been arrested and convicted in connection with the Poona Satyagraha. ” [l]
What we ask for is justice and fair-play
Bombay, Wednesday*
The threat that he had many surprises up his sleeves and would, when the ‘ right’ time came, unleash deadlier moral weapons to storm the citadel of the “Hindu Congress heirs to British power ” was made by Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, President of the All-India Scheduled Castes Federation, in the course of a 60 minute chat with the “Bombay Chronicle” representative this evening.
No mock Show
Dr. Ambedkar said “I have not yet shown my full teeth. Do not imagine we are staging a mock-show at Poona. It is only the beginning of a struggle that would grow grimmer and fiercer day by day, ultimately rocking the entire country.”
Giving a sample of the contents of his armoury, he observed, “For instance, I and my people might fast unto death!”
A hundred thousand ‘ Satyagrahis ’ were ready to march to Poona, “If only the Premier of Bombay promised necessary rations.” The struggle would take an All India shape shortly. Poona showed but a glimpse into the “tremendous potentialities” of his people.
Benefactor of Congress
Saying that he was in a way the benefactor of the Congress, Dr. Ambedkar claimed, it lay within his power to nullify the existence of that organisation totally. “Could not I and my community decide to become Muslim converts ? If I adopt Mr. Jinnah’s religion I will not stand to lose in any measure and, indeed, he might nominate me as a Muslim member to the
1 : The Times of India, dated 22nd July 1946 Reprinted—Khairmode, Vol .8, Pp. 96-98.
- The 26th July 1946