Speeches (Vol. IV)

With all my respect for him, my main objective at that time was to establish some sort of constructive communication and dialogue, because this is not a question of one party, of the State Government or the Central Government, this is not a question where you can say that it falls in the State List of the Central List or the Concurrent List. This is a question which lies on the national conscience, therefore, the nation has to take it in the correct spirit and face the question. I must say that all these things, all these issues or incidents were happening in different States, all the States I would say if that satisfies somebody, but the question is not where it happened, but that they were happening, and one has to go into the reasons for it.

From the details that some of the members of the party then gave me, it had some special provocation this year, in the last few years if you like. Some new rights were given to the Harijans, some lands were given, bonded labour was sought to be removed. It is this which was, really speaking, giving them some human rights for the first time in practice. It happened because people who were not pleased with these things were taking a sort of anti-social attitude and making an organised effort to attack the Harijans and the result was atrocities. Therefore, it has social and historical significance. If you merely rule it away as a problem of law and order, it will be a great mistake. We have then not understood the problem at all. The problem of Scheduled Casts, the problem of Scheduled Tribes and minorities is a problem which requires awakening of social conscience of the nation. For that matter, all the parties together have to have some sort of a constructive programme. But the Government will have to take a lead in this matter and take a special responsibility. Every time we come here and some Members raise this question, it is found that it is merely explained away in a routine manner. That hurts more. We are told that Harijans are 15 per cent and the atrocities are only 1 per cent. This sort of an explanation of happenings in the country in a statistical way is adding insult to injury. Therefore, I do not merely take this opportunity and criticise the Government but I am again making an appeal to the Prime Minister because he himself is a well-known leader who has his own idea about it. I know that he has also done something in this matter in a constructive way, not that I need to speak about it. But I certainly say that we need to emphasise this particular aspect because it has assumed special significance now.

They are getting today at least economic rights and social privilages and some people are getting jealous about it and are trying to deny those things. Certain elements in society in an organised fashion try to do it and if these elements get protection from the Government indirectly by connivance, by negligence, by positive support then what happens? This is the main question. As I told you, specific instances were brought to notice that certain lands were given to the people in the last twom three years, and by forcefully attacking these people, they were dispossessed of the lands. The reasons for some of the troubles were that they refused to offer labour in the usual bonded form. This old slavery, they did not want; they wanted to rebel against it. You will have to go into the causes as to why the trouble took place. These are of special significance. My constructive suggestion is that the political parties must sit together and accept certain responsibilities. It is not enough to tell a police station officer that you go and enquire about it. Well, that is one way of doing. This is a police way of doing it. What I am trying to say is that there are deeper causes and one needs to go into the matter much more thoroughly. We will have to fin out ways of dealing with it. It is however not enough  to tell a police station officer that you go and enquire about it. Well, that is one way of doing. This is a police way of doing it. What I am trying to say is that there are deeper cause and one needs to go into the matter much more thoroughly. We will have to find out ways of dealing with it. It is however not enough. If there are other forms of bonded labour, we will have to find out and attack it ruthlessly, if we can. As Government wants to attack law and order problems, this is the worst law and order problem.