390 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
We followed the policy of conciliation and have attained success to a great extent. If we did not get all what we wanted still we got a lot. We have received reservation in the legislatures and services and most of our demands have been accepted. The demand for Separate Electrorate has not been conceded but we should not be ashamed of it as other minorities have also failed in this respect. That is not the time to come to a conflict with the Congress and we should get as much as we can by conciliation and cooperation.
I have joined the Central Government; but, have not become a member of the Congress and have no intention to do so. I was invited by the Congress to join the Central Government and I had joined it unconditionally. I shall come out any time. I think it is useless to stay there. Our condition is such that it is necessary that our men should be in the administrative machinery. There is no fear of just legislation, but even good laws may be badly administered and if the Government is composed of persons who are by tradition against the interests of the Scheduled Castes, then, there can be no hope for us. Begar Forced Labour has no sanction of the Law, but it is being enacted by the Zamindars and petitions of the Scheduled Castes have been ignored because the officers who receive these petitions were in many cases relatives of the oppressors. If some Scheduled Castes members had been in office, they would have given proper protection to their brethren.
If I join the Congress, I will do so after declaring my intention. If it will be in the interest of the Scheduled Castes, I will advice you to do so. But until I openly ask you to join the Congress, do not join.
The Backward Classes had suffered because of their aloofness. They must forge a united front in order to wrest political power from the higher classes. The system of adult franchise had brought political power to the masses and in my opinion if 1 [1] / 2 crore Scheduled Castes and one crore Backward Classes people in the U. P. join hands against a common target they could return 50% of their