On the social side, we must intensify our work for the removal of untouchability. It has been one of the fundamental aims of our party to do away with this social evil. We cannot progress in our onward march for the establishment of Tamil Arasu unless we eradicate untouchability. The Tamil speaking people as a whole should be reassured that the establishment of Tamil Arasu is not for the benefit of any section of the Tamil speaking people but for all of them. The temple entry committee, great service to the Tamil speaking people by securing temple entry to the Harijans in several temples in Jaffna.
In the matter of fighting this social evil, I am glad to note that the Eastern Province has advanced far ahead of the Northern Province. In the Batticaloa district all temples have been opened for worship by all Hindus irrespective of caste. In Trincomalee, all the temples were opened for worship by Harijans early last month. I earnestly hope that very soon untouchability will become a thing of the past or shall I say a forgotten thing, for I do not desire even the memory of this canker to linger in our minds.
Whilst speaking on the language question, I have already indicated that the adoption of a federal form of government is the only method by which Tamil speaking people in this country could protect their language and traditional homelands. I wish to emphasis that this form of government would also afford adequate protection to religious minorities in this country. The federal system of government provides for distribution of power and naturally there are checks and balances to ensure that this distribution is not interfered with either by the provincial governments or by the central government. These checks and balances would afford automatic protection to all minorities.
The activities of the provincial government or the centre would to some extend be influenced, if not controlled by the views and activities of the other units in the federation. The Singala state for instance will not be [line obscured IN ORIGINAL TEXT]* crimination against Christians or Muslims unless the centre and the Tamil linguistic province also indulge in similar activities will be limited. But if minority discrimination is permitted in a unitary state, there is no saying where and when it will stop. Moreover, most federal constitutions have a chapter of fundamental rights which are guaranteed under the constitution and any one can be pretty certain that language and religion would be so guaranteed.
The demand for a federal form of government has become all the more urgent as a result of the passing of the Sinhala Only Act. The Tamil speaking people face complete extinction today. By accepting and working the Sinhala Only Act or by acquiescing in Sinhalese colonisation of our traditional homelands, we commit suicide. By resisting these, we have a reasonable chance, perhaps a sure chance, of survival. We have therefore to launch a non-violent struggle to achieve our objective. But in a non-violent struggle, the principle must be strictly observed, that you give the other side a chance to do the right thing by you, before you begin resistance. You must give a reasonable period of time for this process which would involve a replacement of the constitution. The period will be fixed by the party executive after considering various factors.
It is not possible at this stage to state precisely what forms the non-violent struggle will take. But we are however certain that we have before us a period of struggle, sacrifice and hard work. Let us all dedicate ourselves to this noble task that lies ahead and I pray to God that with divine guidance we may march onward from strength to strength till we achieve our aim by strictly peaceful and non-violent methods.
