Gandhi Acclaimed

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 860, 2 January 1930, Page 9

Gandhi Acclaimed

BOYCOTT OF LEGISLATURES Vote In National Congress POLICY OF NON-VIOLENCE URGED United P. A.—By Telegraph—Copyright Received 9.5 a.m. DELHI, Wednesday. THE Indian National Congress in open session at Lahore unanimously approved Mr. Gandhi’s independence resolution for a boycott of the Legislatures. An amendment by v Mr. Bose, a Bengal extremist, setting up parallel government and boycott of the schools was rejected by a big majority.

Pandit Malaviya’s amendment for a postponement of these question until April was also rejected. A resolution congratulating the Viceroy, Lord Irwin, upon his escape in the recent bomb outrage, was passed by 942 votes to 792. Mr. Gandhi, in moving this resolution, declared that it was not merely a courtesy to pass this resolution. “It is a matter of duty, if we believe the political salvation of India can come only through a creed of nonviolence,” he said. The Indians should consider themselves trustees for the safety of Europeans who chose to stay in India. Blr. Gandhi, in a characteristic speech, reiterated his appeal for an absence of violence in order to win freedom. He declared that the Congress would never participate in a conference with Britain upon which

the basis of discussion was not complete independence. Amid cries of, “God bless you,” he left the stage. It is estimated that half the Congressmen and the Bengal Legislatures ignore Gandhi’s plan for a boycott of the Legislatures. Persons of moderate political opinion in India acted quickly on the decision of the committee, and a move, sponsored by the conference of the Liberal Federation at Madras, is to be made for the formation of an Indian National Union, “to counteract Congress and to promote the cause of Dominion status for India.” Other parties are united in the opinion that Gandhi has committed n grave blunder, and even the more moderate Congressmen of prominence, such as Dr. Anssari, a former president, fear the consequences of the decision of the Congress.