“The emphasis was given to make the “Samata Sainik Dal of Scheduled Castes Federation stronger and effective.
The manifesto prepared by Scheduled Castes Federation was approved unanimously. The press wrote columns after columns speculating about the proposed manifesto. Indians and Western journals welcomed the manifesto released on 7th October 1951 which was unique, unparalleled and outspoken”
The copies of manifesto were circulated to the representatives of news papers well in advance. Accordingly the leading newspaper The Times of India dated October 3rd, 1951 reacted under the above title which is as follows:-
*… Seeking to fight the battle against poverty on two fronts, the Federation, it is understood, will advocate birth control to limit population and urge measures for increased and intensified agriculture and industrial production. The Federation considers rapid industrialization as very essential but is of a view that agriculture would continue to be the foundation of Indian economy. As regards administration, the Federation will press for the creation of linguistic provinces. It will insist on stringent action against corruption and black-marketing in all phases of life.. particularly against Ministers or Officers who are corrupt. The Federation will advocate reduction of expenditure in the army, re-levy of the salt tax, abolition of prohibition and nationalization of insurance. As regard the foreign policy, the manifesto is expected to emphasize that India’s first duty should be to herself. It will urge the reversal of the present policy which is stated to have converted India’s friends into her enemies and the prevailing antagonism between the United States and India, is mentioned as an instance…”
To the Men and Women of India who are expected to think before they vote. To the men and women of India who are expected to believe that public good should come before selfish gain.
ELECTION MANIFESTO OF THE SCHEDULED CASTES FEDERATION
Scheduled Castes Federation is an All-India Political Party of the Scheduled Casts, established by the Schedule Castes. In the following pages an attempt is made to set out (1) its principles, (2) its policy, (3) its programmers and (4) its terms of co-operation with other political parties
by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar
Principles of the Party
- The attitude of the Party in public affairs will be governed by the following principles:-
(1) It will treat all Indians not only as being equal before the law but as being entitled to equality and will accordingly foster equality where it does not exist and uphold it where it is denied.
(2) It will regard every Indian as an end in himself with a right to his own development in his own way and the state as only a means to that end.
(3) It will sustain the right of every Indian to freedom-religious, economic and political subject to such limitations as may arise out of the need for the protection of the interests of other Indians or the state.
(4) It will uphold the right of every Indian to equality of opportunity subject to the provision that those who have had none in the past shall have priority over those who had.
(5) It will keep the state ever aware of its obligation to make every Indian free from want and free from fear.
(6) It will insist on the maintenance of liberty, equality and fraternity and will strive for redemption from oppression and exploitation of man by man, of class by class and of nation by nation.
(7) It will stand for the Parliamentary System of Government as being the best form of Government both in the interest of public and in the interest of the individual.
(To be continued)
Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Writings & Speeches, Vol.17, Part-1 (p.385-387) 2003, Rs. 125. Maharashtra Govt., Manager, Govt. Central Book Depot, Near Charni Road Railway Station, Netaji Subhash Road, Bombay – 400 004.
