IN INDIA

Hokitika Guardian, 17 October 1930, Page 6

IN INDIA

OFFICIAL REVUE

IMPROVEMENT CLAIMED

(Official Wireless.)

RUGBY, October 15

The Government of India, in. its appreciation of the situation there up to Saturday last, October lltli, states: — The latest provincial reports, for the most part, record a continued improvement in the general situation in internal India. This.is particularly marked in Madras, Bengal, and the Punjab, and in the firstriiamed province the civil disobedience has now practically ceased. ,

In the United Provinces there lias also been an improvement, but the activities in some districts have made it necessary 'for a local government to declare unlawful a number of local associations.

The agitation is reported to be on the decline in the Central Provinces, and this branch of the forest laws is now on a much smaller scale than it was a few wees ago; although a further clash with the 'police arising out of this form of lawlessness has been reported.

The picketing of the liqour shops is in the Central Provinces almost in abeyance, but, as in several other provinces, one result of the crusade against the licensed shops lias been an increae, in illicit distilliation.

Bihar and Orissa continue to recol'd a steady improvement, but the prevalence of illegal activities in some districts has necessitated arrests on a considerable scale. On the other hand the number of those who offer apologies is increasing, and this feature is common to most of the provinces. The boycott of foreign goods is the main plank of the Congress programme, and in Bombay attempts are being made to extend the picketing to the provision and other shops. A revolt of Indian dealers is growing and several provinces report- that foreign cloth is being sold openly in many places; but so far as the purchase of new stocks is concerned, there has not yet been a definite breakaway from the boycott in the large distributing country, where the trade conditions remain in a deplorable state.

During the past week there had been some talk in the Congress quarters of an attempt to set up, in some directions, a parallel system of government. A similar experiment was tried during the non-co-operation movement in 1921-1922, and it definitely failed. It is *not improbable that it has been put forward at. this stage as a spectacular move which may. revive flagging interest in the unlawful associations.

An ordinance was promulgated during the week, and it confers powers by which the Government can occupy the land and buildings used for the purpose of any association that has been, declared unlawful, and can for- , feiti the, movable property , used for the same purpose. It also contains,a provision making the ,-membership of •any- unlawful association a cognisable offence, and this is now operative throughout British India. The provisions relating to property have, been /extended,., in the first instance, to the, ' Bombay Presidency only, and the loyal Government has already taken action under it. In Gujerat, where the support given to the movement in its early stages was more on a mass scale than elsewhere, and the Congress' suc- • corded in establishing a firm hold, in many villages of the districts concerned. Their headquarters axe often established in the finest house in the village, and they serve as centres from which . volunteers incite the people of the countryside to commit breaches of the law and to refuse the payment of land revenue. For some weeks past a vigorous campaign has been in progress to persuade the people not to pay the next instalment of land revenue. The declaration is unlawful of the associations responsible for these activities and the occupation of the headquarters of the more important, of them should have a salutary effect on the situation. GREAT POLICE RAIDS. ON CONGRESS ASSOCIATIONS. DELHI, October 16. There were amazing scenes in the city.of Bombay yesterday. Five thou-, sand armed police made a dramatic earlv-morning raid on tlie lifcuan Con- , gross organisations throughout the city under the new ordinance against unlawful associations • Forty buildings were raided where seditious activities occurred. Seventy persons were arrested at the Congress headquarters, including twenty-five boys. The Congress flag flying over the buildings was hauled down, and the Union Jack hoisted instead. Up to a late hour last night, two hundred were arrested and tried at the Byculln Gaol, and were sentenced to terms varying from two to three months, hut tlie leaders were sentenced to six months. Crowds which watched the raids were dispersed by police charges.