204 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
people insist upon calling it a Federation then it is not only a monster among Federations, but it is also a monstrosity among Federations.”
Dr. Ambedkar next proceeded to examine the grounds which had been urged in favour of the acceptance of the scheme. viz. that—
( i ) it helps to unite India.
( ii ) that it enables British India to influence Indian India and to gradually transform the autocracy prevalent in Indian India into democracy existing in British India.
( iii ) that the scheme embodies what it is called responsible government.
In connection with (i) he pointed out that not all that is comprised under the term Indian India was brought under the Federation. Reading S. 6 (i) with Schedule 1 of the Act it was not open to every State to join the Federation with the result that 498 States still remain outside the Federation and can never become part of the Federation. Why are these States excluded from the Federation, what is their position and destiny, asked Dr. Ambedkar.
Dealing with (ii) Dr. Ambedkar came to the conclusion that the States were placed by law in a position to control the affairs of British India and by the same law British India was disabled from exercising any influence over the States. In his opinion the Federal scheme did not help, indeed it hindered British India from setting up in motion processes which would result in the democratization of the Indian States.
On the other hand it helped the Indian States to destroy democracy in British India.
As regards the (iii) he observed that the responsibility did not extend to Defence and Foreign Affairs and that the scheme of responsibility in the Federation as compared with the system of Dyarchy in the Provinces was designed to yield less