Dr. B.R. Ambedkar: There are some old members who have expressed more doubts as to whether the SCF should continue or not. But I am of the opinion that as long as the problem of Untouchability remains the SCF should continue to function. The question may arise as to whether we should work in co-operation with any other party at the time of election. But you know what is our experience when we have worked in co-operation with other parties. But such question will be considered at the proper time. For the time being we should consider this question of continuing our SCF.
Resolution no.2: The working committee of the all India Scheduled Castes Federation is aware of the defeat which the Federation has suffered at the last election. The working committee, however, is in no way discouraged by it. Such defeats are usual and normal. A political party does not exist merely for the sake of winning election. A political party exists for the sake of educating, agitating and organising the people. This work the Federation has done beyond doubt and beyond measure.
This meeting of the Working Committee desires to state emphatically that the SC Federation cannot be wound up until the problems arising out of Untouchability are not solved.
Proposed by: Shri H.D. Awode.
Seconded by: Shri M.J. Velu
Resolution No.3: This meeting of the working committee of the SCF regrets that the election commission was wrong in declaring the SCF not be an all India party. Whether a party is an all India party or not must be determined by the number of votes cast in its favour and not by the number of seats won by it. In calculating the number of votes cast the election commission failed to take into consideration that all the second votes of the Scheduled Castes voters were cast in favour of the Socialist candidates on account of the election pact between SCF and the Socialist Party while the Socialist Party voters did not give their votes to the SC candidates. If the votes cast by the SC voters in favour of the Socialist candidates were added to the yotes cast by the SC voters in favour of the SC candidates, the total number of votes polled by the Federation would be far greater than the votes polled by the Socialist Party.
This working committee, therefore, urges upon the election commission to restore the status of an all India party which was give to it at the first election.
Moved by: Shri A.G Pawar (Maharashtra).
Seconded by: Shri V. Doraiswami (Mysore).
This resolution was carried unanimously.
Resolution No.7: (1) This meeting of the working Committee of the Scheduled Castes Federation expresses its resentment against the Planning Commission for not having consulted the federation to assist the commission in devising ways and means for solving the problems of the Untouchables.
(2) This meeting of the working committee of the Federation is of the opinion that in Planning Commission’s proposals there is none which would abolish untouchability or remove the poverty of the Untouchables.
(3) This meeting of the working committee of the federation is convinced that it is the village system which is based on compulsory co-existence between Untouchables and caste Hindus which is at the root of Untouchability and the poverty of the Untouchables.
(4) When two parties decide to co-exist it is important that each should understand the other’s mind and mental attitude. Behind what he says we could have some idea of what and how he thinks. What constitutes the communal mind? How does it work and react? Has it got recognisable corporate existence? And, if so, is there a discernible pattern to be studied; and what can we learn from it? Where, indeed, do we began?
It is our failure to study the caste Hindu reaction and to look below the surface of statements and propaganda that has been responsible for our past mistakes. The kind of caste Hindu mind with which we must be concerned is not be found in caste Hindu (but behind the iron curtain).
