In one of the State Governments - the hon. Home Minister himself has mentioned this in his reply - in Maharashtra, nearly 17 of 18 years ago, in 1960 or 1961, we decided that these neo-Buddhists should be eligible for all these facilities and they are getting all these facilities, educational facilities and share in State services. They themselves said, “We do not want the advantage of having reservation in elections, in the Legislature” .. This shows their political courage. They said, ‘We are prepared to take chances with you so far as the question of sharing power is concerned; which they have done. But at the same time, it is a States responsibility, the political leaders’ responsibility, to see that in respect of some of these problems and handicaps which they are suffering from, we must go to their help. Therefore, I think what the Maharashtra Government did in 1960 ought to have been done by the Government of India even at that time. I am not making a distinction between the Janata Government and the Congress Government, I am talking about the Central Government. Now, I would like to tell you that in 1971, the Central Government took this position about their scholarships, education policy etc. I am quoting the background of the decision that was taken then :
“The Government has very carefully considered the matter. It is of the view that scheduled castes converts to Buddhism still suffer from social and educational backwardness. Therefore, it has been decided that any person who prefesses Buddhist religion and who either himself or any of his ancestors were at any time members of scheduled casts will be eligible for the grant of Government of India Post-Matric scholarship.
Therefore, one step forward was taken. I know, there were certain difficulties in the policy of the Central Government, but the attitude was that they accepted that they have got a problem and that needs to be tackled. That is the main question.
Is the present Central Government prepared to take this position or not? Whatever remains to be done is in the matter of share in the Services. The Prime Minister this morning mentioned about the backward classes. While I would have said that, that is a solution. But the fact of life is that there is nothing like backward classes for services in the Central services. In State Governments, certainly this is a thing which has been in practice. Merely by saying that this can be done for the backward classes may not provide a solution for the Central Services. Therefore, I think, some bold decision is called for and I hope, there are people, who are bold and able people and who can take such a decision in this Government.
My question is, whether this Government is going to say that their position is going to be open and they have not closed their mind on this question, the neo-Buddhists have got a problem and they are prepared to look at it a fresh with an open mind, with a progressive outlook so that we can go and persuade the four leaders, Shri Gavai, Shri Arumugham, Shri Kumbhare of the Republican Party and Shri Rajbhoj of the Congress Party. These four leaders are on fast and I think, they are suffering on behalf of millions of people. I have received at least more than a thousand telegrams from different parts of India. It is not a question of one State, neo-Buddhists are spread all over India, North, eastern and South India. Therefore, I would make an appeal and make a request to the hon. Minister that he should make his point very clear categorically that Government’s mind is not closed on this question.
My question is, whether Government of India’s mind is open on this question, not only open at both ends, but open to receive suggestions, and ponder over them very seriously and come to a conclusion that whatever is denied to these neo-Buddhists, which legitimately belongs to them, will be given to them. This is a question of one’s attitude and I would like a specific answer on this question.