Speech of Jaipal Singh
Jaipal Singh of Bihar gave his speech on behalf of backward tribes, primitive tribes, criminal tribes, to whom he claimed the original people of India, in English language. The forest dwellers also known as Adivasis were more than 30 million at that time. He claimed that most of the people who were present in the Assembly were intruders and his people were neglected since 6000 years. According to him the tribal people wanted protection from Ministers and they wanted to be treated as other Indians. At that time only six members were from the tribal community. Jaipal Singh asked to add a provision in the rules whereby it might be possible to bring in more Adibasis to the House. He again blamed Hindus for racialism of 6000 years, leading to exploitation. Then he pointed out juggling of words in Para 20 of the Cabinet Mission Plan. In para 20, in book of Cabinet Mission word “full” was used in regard to representation of minorities, tribal and depressed classes. But in para 20 of the reprint of Cabinet Mission presented in the Parliament of England word “Due” was used in respect to the representation of minorities, tribal and depressed classes. No one was knowing about this juggling and who committed this juggling to deceive the people of India.
He asked members to trust each other. Then he said, “Sir, I do not consider my people a minority. We have already heard on the floor of the House this morning that the Depressed Classes also consider themselves as Adibasis, the original inhabitants of this country. If you go on adding people like the exterior castes and others who are socially in no man’s land, we are not a minority.” He was convinced with the resolution of Nehru that everyone in the House would dealt with tribal justly. He assured to fight for freedom by sitting and working together and supported the resolution of Nehru.
Speech of Debi Prosad Khaitan
Debi Prosad Khaitan of Bengal gave his speech from point of view of a Businessman. He supported the resolution and opposed the amendment of Dr. Jayakar. D. Jayakar was judge of Federal Court and he had given some orbiter dicta which were not supported either by the Statement or by circumstances. As per Dr. Jayakar House could only elect the Chairman and lay down the general order of business. Khaitan pointed out that Dr. Jayakar had interpreted the words “general order of business” in very narrow manner. To go ahead it was necessary to lay down general objectives, appoint certain committees, and define the central subjects. If the House failed to define central subjects at that stage, which was called as preliminary stage by Dr. Jayakar, it would not be possible for the Provinces or the Groups to frame their own constitution. Hence it was necessary to find out the central subjects and to determine the finances required to administer them. He suggested to form an advisory committee to safeguard the rights of minorities.
Many members approached Jinnah, but all efforts were fruitless, he and his party was not ready to join the Constituent Assembly of India. When interim government was formed he was not ready to accept the invitation of Nehru to join the interim government, but accepted the invitation of Viceroy in contrary. Congress again approached Jinnah, but he asked Churchill – his friend to invite himself to London to clear some misunderstandings between him and Congress. As all other parties were assembled to frame the Constitution, he was spending his time at Cairo to spread a disease called Hindu-phobia, that Hindu Raj would extend to the Mid-East. Jinnah was spreading propaganda. House should not suffer from a disease called Jinnah-phobia and always out of fear of Jinnah and his Muslim League, make the House absolutely helpless and delay the framing of the Constitution, which would ultimately delay freedom of the nation. Hence House should not loose time and should support the resolution moved by Nehru.
Speech of Damber Singh Gurung
Dambar Singh Gurung of Bengal gave his speech. He was only representatives of 30 lakh Gurkhas permanently domiciled in India. Sikhs were also near about 30 lakh. Gurkhas were having excellent fighting skills. He supported the resolution moved by Nehru in capacity of All India Gurkha League. He said, “If we adopt the policy of wait and see as has been advocated by Dr. Jayakar and supported by Ambedkar, we will never reach our goal. The Interim Government which is functioning to-day would not have come into existence if we had adopted that policy.”
As Gurkhas were generally soldiers of Military Department under British rule, they were considered as stumbling block on the path to freedom. For them “duty first and duty last” was the only principle. Gurung assured that what they were serving under Briish rule, would serve in free India to the constitutionally established Government. Gurkhas were scattered across India, only in district of Darjeeling and in the Province of Assam they were concentrated to a certain extent. They were very backward educationally and economically. Although they had served British rule with full honesty, nothing was done to uplift them by the British Government. British intentionally kept them backward and ignorant so that they might be sacrificed any time.
Before election of members of Constituent Assembly, the All India Gurkha League approached the Congress with sufficient representation. But not a single seat was given to Gurkhas, in-spite of 30 Lakh population. Whereas Congress had given 3 seats to Anglo-Indians which were only 1 lakh 42 thousand in India at that time. Gurkhas would not tolerate such kind of injustice anymore. Gurkha League was having support of Maharaja of Nepal and then Gurung asked to treat Gurkhas as minority community.
Then he requested Jinnah to come to India and settle the differences here, as that was a domestic quarrel. He was seeking help of people who kept Indians including Muslims in slavery for centuries. He completed his speech by saying, “In spite of all this, if Mr. Jinnah goes on throwing the challenge of civil war, I ask the country-men to accept that challenge and let us fight it out. As for the Gurkhas, we will fight along with those who want one India and oppose those who want to divide it.”
Note: This article is completely based on Constituent Assembly Debates and only for knowledge purpose.
Read Previous Parts
CAD: Pledge to Proclaim Independence of India: Part 12
CAD: Pledge to Proclaim Independence of India: Part 13
CAD: Pledge to Proclaim Independence of India: Part 14
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