PARTIES IN INDIA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 August 1942, Page 3

PARTIES IN INDIA

MOSLEMS MAY NEGOTIATE WITH GANDHI VIOLENCE IN SOME AREAS. CONGRESS CONSIDERING NEW TACTICS. (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) LONDON, August 18. Sporadic violence continues in India, but attention at present is focused on the political activities, from which some quarters hope a peaceful settlement might emerge. The president of the Indian National Liberal Federation, Sir Bijoy Prosad Singh Roy, has supported Sir Tej Sapru’s appeal for talks between the Indian leaders and a delegation from the House of Commons. Sir Bijoy appealed to the Viceroy to take the initiative. The Trade Union Congress of the Central Provinces adopted a resolution condemning violence, but advising the workers to carry on a non-violent struggle, and warning the Government that repression would only drive the freedom movement underground and would lead to most undesirable consequences. It is understood that the working committee of the Moslem League is at present debating a resolution which would empower the president, Dr Jinnah, to make contact with Mr Gandhi and find out whether the Congress would agree to Moslem autonomy if a majority of Moslems voted for it, and also if the Congress in the meantime would co-operate with the Moslems in a national Government concentrating on the conduct of the war against the Axis. A Mysore communique states that the police on Monday six times fired on rioters in Bangalore. Six were killed and 32 injured. The city is now quiet. The Madras presidency remains disturbed. Two courts in the Ramnad district were completely burnt out. The mob did not disperse in spite of repeated firing. Armed reserves were brought up. Six bodies have so far been recovered. Fifty-one people were arrested. Five were killed at Govadari, when a police station was attacked. The Premier of Bengal, Mr Abdul Fazlul Huq, has appealed to the Bengalese to assist to restore order in Bengal. The Provincial Government, it is reported, has split on the Central Government’s policy toward the Congress. The chief of police appealed to Calcutta citizens to detain incendiaries. Many fire alarm boxes were destroyed, exposing inhabitants in crowded areas to the danger of being burnt alive. The police and military are still heavily patrolling Calcutta, where some tram routes are suspended. A number of shops are closed in Orissa. The Government is organising a village defence force to assist to maintain order. The Bombay correspondent of the “Daily Mail” says that the civil disobedience campaign has so far cost the Congress Party very little, but it is estimated that it will shortly cost £lOO,OOO a day. A Congress member informed him that the movement had plenty of money and that finance was no problem. The police are particularly anxious to learn the inside story of the Congress Party’s finances. No bank has an account in the party’s name, balance-sheets are never produced, and no receipts are given. Police raids have failed to uncover documents revealing financial details. There are signs that the movement is likely to take a new line. Hooligans, ruined the campaign at the outset, for which reason members of the Congress Party are believed to be working out a plan designed to hit communications and essential services. Such a campaign would cost an enormous sum.