THE INDIAN AGITATION.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXII, Issue 8941, 5 October 1907, Page 2

THE INDIAN AGITATION.

Keir-Hardle’s Conclusions

‘ Nothing Worth Mentioning.”

(Per Press Association. —Copyright,! London, October 4. Mr Keir-liardie has cabled to the Daily Mail that after investigating he has concluded that there is no sedition worth mentioning in India. With sympathetic administration and legitimate reforms the agitation would speedily subside. Ho admitted stating that the prohibition of meetings, etc., reminded him of Russia, that the violation of Hindu women by Mahommedau rowdies reminded him of Armenia, and that he considered colonial government must be the ultimate goal. Anything else attributed to him was fabrication. The Mail considers that these are only verbal modifications. Evidently Mr Hardie was not capable of weighing his words or of understanding their real import. ludia, in the present state of affairs, was no place for Bengal papers to declare Mr Hardie an angel and not a man. Riot in Calcutta. Press Association. —Copyright Calcutta, October 1. A meeting demanding self government by force in Calcutta was dispersed by the police. Street rioting followed. Showers of stones were thrown and shops looted. The disturbance lasted many hours. The mob was .eventually dispersed by six divisions of police. Forty police wei;einjuredThe meeting was held in Bladon Square and was organised by sympathisers with the recently punished students. Subsequently students and hooligans gathered on the roofs of houses in Northern Calcutta and pelted the trams and passers with brickbats. Europeans were singled out for attack.

Bengal newspapers blame the police, alleging that the situation was created in order to throw discredit on Keir Hardie.