CONTENTION IN INDIA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 September 1942, Page 4

CONTENTION IN INDIA

MR CHURCHILL’S RECENT STATEMENT ATTACKED BY COMMERCE COMMITTEE. SOME SWEEPING ASSERTIONS. (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) (Received This Day, 1.20 p.m.) NEW DELHI, September 14. _ The committee of the Non-Politi-cal Federation of Indian Chambers cf Commerce and Industry described Mr Churchill’s statement as “biassed, disingenuous and provocative, tending to confirm the deep-rooted distrust of British promises and intentions regarding

India’s freedom.” The committee’s statement contended that Mr Churchill had strengthened the conviction that Britain does not want to give up Imperialist domination over the country. It condemned also the “colossal ignorance” of the statement regarding Congress’s supposed hold over India and the reign of ruthless repression, and the recent tendency towards violence and sabotage, which would only recoil against the country itself by initiating a vicious circle of repression and violence.’ The committee called on Indian members of the. Viceroy’s Council to persist in the demand for a representative national government and also for a transfer of real power from the British to the Indians. Eight young women and three men were arrested for picketing the entrance to the Legislative Assembly, which is meeting today. The women seated themselves on the steps, preventing the entry of students, and stood around the building shouting: ■‘Down with Churchill!” “Down with the Assembly!” “Long live independence-” The police later released the women.

Sii- Edward Benthall, a' member of the Indian War Transport Board, told the Assembly that the civil disobedience movement, according to a preliminary compilation, had damaged 250 railway stations. Tampering with the railway track had resulted in at 1 least 24 derailments. Many empty passenger cars were burnt and goods wagons looted or damaged. The greater part of the sabotage occurred in Northern Bihar and the eastern part of the United Provinces. The track had been restored in most area. War transport had experienced a temporary setback, but this was rapidly overcome.

Mr Buranath Bewoor, Secretary of the Department of Posts and Air, said rioters had completely burned down 53 post offices, seriously damaged 200 and attacked 300 others. They tampered with telegraph lines at many places. Mobs attacked repair parties and looted £7,500 worth of stamps.