LETTERS BY . . . . . . . . . PRIME MINISTER 259
candidates. The phrase “ top of the poll” has really no meaning in a proportional election. No-one denies that Dr. Ambedkar has influence among some of the Depressed Classses in Bengal. There are twenty five Scheduled Caste members of the Bengal Assembly, four of whom were returned as Independents and one as a Dr. Ambedkar candidate. I do not know whether all the Independents voted for Dr. Ambedkar in the Constituent Assembly election or whether he got some Anglo-Indian votes.
With regard to Dr. Ambedkar’s paragraph 4, I am convinced that we cannot make a public declaration that we regard the Scheduled Castes as a minority who should be represented in the Minority Advisory Committee. It is correct, of course, that Congress do not regard them as a minority for the purpose of separate political representation, whereas we have always done so. But we are not in a position to secure that Dr. Ambedkar’s organization is represented on the Minorities Advisory Committee.
I do not think it is really essential to send a reply to Dr. Ambedkar but should it seem to you more courteous to do so I attach a short draft.* In case you wish to see them, I attach also extracts @ from the speeches by the First Lord and the President of the Board of Trade in the Commons’ Debate. My own speech contained a passage similar to the letter but rather shorter.
PETHICK-LAWRENCE. [1]
- Not printed.
@ Not printed.
1 : The Transfer of Power, Vol. VIII, No. VIII, No. 250, Pp. 441-412.