WHAT IS...................EVOLUTION ? 207
In looking at the Federation the Princes kept two questions before them. . . . . . . . . How far would this Federation enable them to escape the tyranny of Paramountcy, and secondly, how far did the scheme take away their sovereignty of their powers of internal Government ? “They want to draw more under the former and to give less under the latter” said Dr. Ambedkar.
In this connection Dr. Ambedkar asserted that there were other points of view besides those mentioned which must have their say. He pointed out that there was the point of view of the freeman, and of the poor man. The Federation did not seem to take any account of them and yet they were people who were most concerned.
Dr. Ambedkar asserted, “This Federation if it comes into being will be a standing menace to freeman and an obstacle in the way of the poor man.”
Concluding Dr. Ambedkar said the vastness of the subject was the reason for the length of his address. He was also persuaded not to cut matters short being reminded of the days when people of India were led by men like Ranade, Tilak, Agarkar, Gokhale, Dadabhoy, Pherozeshah Mehta, Surendranath Bannerji. . . . . . . . . If notable figures in Indian Political firmament. . . . . . .a group of well-clad and well-read politicians who relied on study and experience.
Today their places were taken by. . . . . . . . . voice.” [1]
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1 : The Bombay Chronicle, dated 31st January 1939.