PARITY WITH MOSLEMS

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24899, 12 June 1946, Page 7

PARITY WITH MOSLEMS

Congress Party Refuses INTERIM INDIAN GOVERNMENT

(N.Z. Press Association— Copyright) LONDON, June 10. “The president of the Congress Party (Dr. Azad) has announced that the party will not accept equal representation with the Moslem League in the interim Government for India, says the New Delhi correspondent of the “Daily Express.” “Dr. Azad’s announcement followed the decision of the Congress Party’s Working Committee. _ . . “Members of the Congress Party believe that the Viceroy proposes that the interim Government shall consist of five Congress, five Moslem League, and two independent members. The Congress Party maintains that parity with the Moslem League would not be consistent with the spirit and letter of the White Paper which, it states, recognises population strengths as the basis of representation.” The correspondent adds that the atmosphere in Congress circles at present is’most unpromising on the issue of parity. The British viewpoint is that the party with a majority would have absolute power. The British might compromise by making the two independent appointments dependent on Congress approval. In a new effort to obtain agreement this week on the Indian constitutional issue, the Viceroy (Lord Wavell) and members of the British Cabinet Mission met leaders of the Congress Party. The result of the meeting is expected to be made public to-morrow. “The Standing Committee of the Chamber of Princes has approved the British Cabinet Mission’s plan for Indian independence and has established its own machinery for participation, says the Bombay correspondent of the Associated Press. The Nawab of Bhopal, Chancellor of the Chamber, said that a committee would be formed to decide the status of nearly 600 princely States. A second committee representing the States and the Central Indian Government would deal with matters of common concern pending the adoption of the Constitution.

A gathering of 100.000 Sikhs Amritsar watched 1000 selected representatives take an oath to oppose the British proposals for India “by every sacrifice.”