MOBILISE . . . . . . . . . OF INDIA 303
will eventually succeed in silencing the opposition of the younger leaders either on the ground of accepting it for what it is worth or on the usual ground of accepting it for wrecking it. There is also circumstantial evidence to believe that in spite of all camouflage there have been recently secret negotiations in India as well as in England. It is, therefore, just likely that as the result of these negotiations the constitution will be subjected to some tinkering processs and then it will be declared as worthy of acceptance.”
Turning Point
Referring to the policy of the Independent Labour Party Dr. Ambedkar said: “The Independent Labour Party feels that this is a turning point in the nation’s life and that it is the duty of every party in the country to look at the question not from a party point of view but from a standpoint of the country. The reactionary nature of the Federal scheme in the Government of India Act is not properly and fully realised in many quarters. Most of the Indian politicians seem to be dissatisfed with the new constitution merely because it is halting and withholds full powers of self-government. Its dangers are not sufficiently realised by them. And in the case of these leaders the threat not to work the Constitution may be regarded as only bluff. I am afraid the majority of the Congressmen, or the majority of the leaders, for that matter belong to this category.
“The Independent Labour Party will never be a party to bartering away the country’s freedom to grow to full nationhood, for the sake of a mess of pottage, by howsoever a big name it may be called. In the process of evolution, Federation may be inevitable, but certainly it is not the Federation which is envisaged in the new Constitution.”
Defects in Federation
Referring to the grounds of criticisms against Federation by his party Dr. Ambedkar said : “The grounds of criticism may be divided into two groups (1) imperfections, and (2) inherent defects. The former include the preponderating representation given to the States, the represenation of the States through