THE CABINET . . . . . . . . . UNTOUCHABLES 275
Government is reconstituted they expect Parliament to press H.M.G. to right this wrong.
- Much can be done now to save the Untouchables from the injury which the Constituent Assembly, dominated by the Caste Hindus who are determined to deprive the Untouchables of their political safeguards may do. To prevent this mischief the following steps could be taken :—
I. Press H.M.G. to make a declaration that they regard the Untouchables as a minority.
This is essential in view of the stand taken by the Congress in its letter of the 25th June 1946 (Item 21 in Cmd. 6861). This is all the more necessary because the Viceroy in his reply to the Congress dated 27th June 1946 (Item 38 in Cmd. 6861) has avoided giving a specific denial to the contention of the Congress that the Untouchables are not a minority. If the Government is not pressed to make a declaration now the Untouchables will suffer in two ways :—
(a) The Constituent Assembly dominated by the Hindus will deny them the rights of the minority.
(b) H.M.G. will be free not to come to their rescue on the ground that they were not committed to regard the Untouchables as a minority.
II. Press for a declaration as to whether H.M.G. will institute machinery, if so of what sort, to examine whether the safeguards for minorities framed by the Constituent Assembly are adequate and real.
(a) In their Supplementary Statement dated 25th May
1946 (Cmd. 6835) the Cabinet Mission say :—
“When the Constituent Assembly has completed its labours, His Majesty’s Government will recommend to Parliament such action as may be necessary for the cessasion of sovereignty to the Indian People, subject only of two matters which are mentioned in the statement and which we believe, are not controversial, namely : adequate provision for the protection of the minorities (Paragraph 20 of the statement) and willingness to conclude a treaty with H.M.G. to cover matters arising out of the transfer of power (Paragraph 22 of the statement)”.