UNREST IN INDIA.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9139, 15 July 1908, Page 5

UNREST IN INDIA.

CABLE NEWS.

United Press Association— Hy Electric Telegraph Copyright.

ALLEGED SEDITIOUS ARTICLE

CHARGE AGAINST A NATION ALIST LEADER.

Received July 14, 11.20 p.m. CALCUTTA, July 14. The trial of B. G. Tilak, a Nationalist leader, who was arrested at Bombay for publishing a seditious newspaper article, has begun at Bombay, before Mr Justice Davar, and a special jury consisting of seven Europeans and two Parsees.

B. G.. Tilak is leader of the Extremists, the section which in December last endeavoured to capture the Indian National Congress and to instal Tilak as President. The Moder ates and the Extremists fought, and a split arose which practically wrecked the Congress. The Moderates in an official note declared that "the rowdyism was all pre-arranged" A shoe was thrown that "struck Sir Phirozeshah Merwanji Mehta, and Mr Banerjee. Mr Tilak's followers then rushed the platform, brandishing sticks and throwing chairs. At a subsequent meeting of the Extremists Mr Tilak advocated "a more advanced policy." He charged the Moderates with dragging back the Congress in order to please the Govern • ment. He asserted that the high persons who were managing affairs were determinpd to bring the Congress from its high pedestal to the status of an All-Indian Moderate Congress. He protested against the high-handed manner in which the question of Mr Lajoat Rai's election as president had been brushed aside on the ground that his nomination would offend the Government. (Cries of "Shame").