On September 24, 1932, the Poona Pact was signed between Gandhi and Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar to address the political rights and representation of Dalits. The British government had proposed a separate electorate for Dalits through the ‘Communal Award,’ allowing them to vote separately to elect their leaders. Gandhi opposed this, fearing it would isolate the Dalit community from Hindu society, and began a hunger strike in Yerwada Jail to protest. Although Dr. Ambedkar supported the separate electorate, he ultimately agreed to Gandhi’s demand and accepted a joint election system, leading to the Poona Pact.
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