PARADOX IN INDIA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 November 1939, Page 5

PARADOX IN INDIA

MR GANDHI’S ATTITUDE MINISTRIES MUST SUPPORT WAR OR RESIGN. BARGAINING DENOUNCED BY MOSLEM PREMIER. By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright i BOMBAY, November 8. While Mr Gandhi in Congress emphatically declares his opposition to Hitlerism and sympathy for Britain against the Nazis, the present appar» ently paradoxical situation has arisen because Mr Gandhi, representing eight of the 11 Provinces, claimed that the Ministries must either support the war or resign. Six have already resigned and two are resigning this week.

Mr Gandhi says: "Let a constituent assembly be elected of representatives of India and frame a constitution, subject to safeguards and the protection of the rights of minorities to their satisfaction. Will Britain accept this?" The Moslem leader. Mr Jinnah, says the Moslems do not want protection as a minority but want a voice in framing the constitution. "The Congress proposal to leave Moslem rights to an undefined constituent assembly is unacceptable to the Moslem League, he said.

The attitude of the three Moslem Provincial Governments is summed up by Sir Sikander Hyatkha. Premier of the Punjab, who claims that he can supply a million trained mon from the Punjab. He says: "This bargaining is despicable. All Indians should offer wholehearted and unconditional sup- 1 port to Britain. A Pashawar message states that the Congress Ministry of the North-West Frontier Province has I'esigned.