CONGRESS . . . . . . . . . BYPASS UNTOUCHABLES 75
had threatened to burn the pandal if it was allowed to be used by the Social Conference party. On 17th September 1931 in the Federal Structure Committee Mr. Gandhi fulminated the following words :
“Of course, the Congress will share the honour with Dr. Ambedkar of representing the interests of the Untouchables. They are as dear to the Congress as the interests of any other body or of any other individual throughout the length and breadth of India. Therefore, I could most strongly resist any further special representation.”
Indeed, this was nothing but the declaration of war by Mr. Gandhi and the Congress against the Untouchables. He was making his plans to bypass the Untouchables and to close the problem by bringing about a settlement between the Hindus, Muslims and the Sikhs. It was being done quite confidentially. Knowing that this was a mischievous move I got up and said, “I should like to say that I have already presented our case to the Minorities Sub-Committee last time. But I do want to say most emphatically that whoever claims it, he cannot give it out of my share. I want to a make that absolutely plain.” On this point Mr. Gandhi remained silent and went on contemplating about the pact between the Hindus, Muslims and the Sikhs. Mr. Gandhi failed to achieve success in this pact. He cut a sorry figure when he said that the failure in achieving the success was owing to the fact that the representation of the delegates was defective as all the delegates were nominated by the Government. This was an indirect challange to the authenticity of the representation made by me as the delegates of the Untouchables, Mr. Gandhi insisted that he was the sole champion of the Depressed Classes. To answer the challenge of Mr. Gandhi I said, “Even if the Depressed Classes of India were given a chance of electing their representatives to this Conference, I would all the same find a place here. I say, therefore, whether I am a nominee or not, I fully represent the claims of my community.” In the course of my speech I also showed them a telegram which I had then received, the telegram was sent by a man whom I had never met, it was also sent from a place where I had never gone too. Not only this, telegrams after