THE CABINET . . . . . . . . . UNTOUCHABLES 267
Scheduled Castes who feel, in spite of Mr. Gandhi’s earnest endeavours on their behalf, that as a community, they stand outside the main body of the Hindu community which is represented by the Congress.”
— Extract from the speech by the Rt. Hon’ble
Mr. L.S. Amery, Secretary of State for India,
in the House of Commons on August 14, 1940.
(iv)
“Without recapitulating all these reasons in detail, I should remind you that His Majesty’s Government at that time made it clear:—
(a) That, their offer of unqualified freedom after the hostilities was made conditional upon the framing of a Constitution agreed by the main elements of India’s national life and the negotiation of the necessary treaty arrangements with His Majesty’s Government;
(b) That, it is impossible during the period of hostilities to bring about any change in the Constitution by which means alone a “National Government” such as you suggest could be made responsible to the Central Assembly.
The object of these conditions was to ensure the fulfilment of their duty to safeguard the interest of the racial and religious minorities, of the Depressed Classes and their treaty obligations to the Indian states.”
— Extract from the letter by Lord Wavell to Mr. Gandhi, dated 15th August, 1944.
- The Cabinet Mission’s proposal not to give separate representation to the Untouchables is not the result of their individual judgement arrived at on an honest examination of the relevant facts. On the other hand, what the Mission has done is to pamper to the prejudices of Mr. Gandhi. Mr. Gandhi is vehemently opposed to the recognition of the Untouchables as a separate element in the national life of India. He opposed their