508 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
S. C. F. “ SA TYAGRAHIS ” JAILED
One hundred and fourteen more Scheduled Castes Satyagrahis, who were arrested yesterday, were sent to jail today, bringing the total number of Satyagrahis under imprisonment since the commencement to 124.
Today’s batch of 114 included 13 women who were asked to pay fine of Rs. 25 each or undergo in default 15 day’s simple imprisonment. The women preferred to go to jail.
Of the 101 men Satyagrahis, 37 were awarded a fine of Rs. 30 or in default one month’s simple imprisonment and the remaining 64 a fine of Rs. 50 or in default two months simple imprisonment. All of them refused to pay the fine.
The trial took place in the Yeravada Jail where the demonstrators were placed in custody.
A statement charging the British Government and Congress with having betrayed the interests of the Schedule Castes was read out in the court during the trial on behalf of the arrested.
The Congress, the statement said, which styed itself as a deomocratic body had betrayed their community at the time of the Poona Pact and also during the Cripps proposals and the British Cabinet proposals. The result of joint electorates agreed to by the Poona Pact were proved during the recent provincial elections when candidates having the Predominant support of Scheduled Castes were defeated and Congress “puppets” got elected on Caste Hindu votes.
The organisers of the Satyagraha also took out a procession from the Satyagraha Camp at Baba Jan Chowk. The procession was stopped by the police at the Railway Goods Depot on the Wellesley Road at a distance of half a mile from the Council Hall.
The processionists were addressed by Mr. G. H. Kale, M . L . A . (Bombay) who exhorted them to carry on their campaign till they won their fight. Mr. Kale said that he was in full sympathy with their demands.