GANDHI’S CAMPAIGN

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 50, Issue 150, 7 April 1930, Page 5

GANDHI’S CAMPAIGN

INAUGURATION TO-DAY. SALT FROM THE SEASHORE. WARNING BY GOVERNMENT. (United Press Association—Copyright.) (Received This Day, 9.5 a.m.) DELHI, Anril 6. Maliatman Gandhi, with 80 followers, has arrived at his destination, the village of Dandi, in the Surat district, Bombay, and will inaugurate a campaign of mass civil disobedience by marching with volunteers to the seashore, He will there draw water in pots, leaving it in the sun to evaporate, after which salt will be manufactured, thus flouting the law. v Nationalists throughout India have planned a demonstration to break the salt laws, and in many centres salt will be manufactured ”üblicly. The Bombay Government announces that the salt to be manufactured by Gandhi from natural deposits_ contains chemicals which are injurious for human consumption.

OPENING REDUCED TO FARCE. SOME VOLUNTEERS ARRESTED. (Received This Day, 10.25 a.m.) DELHI, April 6. Gandhi easily leads the field in amassing honours in the civil disobedience campaign. He had the satisfaction of producing over, a ton of salt, which was by no means palatable, and comes under the Government edict as unfit for human consumption. The authorities are ignoring Gandhi’s efforts, and, greatly to his disappointment, he remains a free man. The police, however, took satisfaction in another district of Bombay, where they arrested Katarri, one of Gandhi’s chief lieutenants and 55 volunteers. Reports from other parts of India prove that the opening of the campaign was reduced to a farce. THE LEADER DISAPPOINTED. IGNORED BY TIIE AUTHORITIES. DELHI, April, 5. Mahatma Gandhi’s mass civil disobedience campaign is duo to start to-morrow, but judging from reports from the provinces there is little indication of any wide sympathy with the movement. Gandhi’s disappointment at his non-arrest by the Government is becoming more acute, but it is believed lie lias a new card ready to play when he is certain that the Government’s plan is ito ignore him. The belief is ,:ield that Gandhi will not be arrested unless he sq forces the issue as to leave no other alternative for The Government.

The authorities liaye made elaborate plans in case of a disturbance. Armed police have been drafted to Dandi, and British troops are held in readiness at various centres in the Bombav Presidency. Sir Frederick Sykes (Governor of Bombay) was due to leave Bombay this morning for a tour of the Presidency, but following a meeting of the Executive Council this has been postponed, presumably owing to the developments of Mr Gandhi’s movement.

GENERAL STRIKE CALLED.

DISTURBANCES IN BOMBAY

DELHI, April 5. Mr Sengupta, presided at a meeting held under the auspices of the Calcutta Trade Unions, which carried his resolution calling on all workers for a general strike, as a m-otest against polio? interference with • the carters’ agitation last week. Several thousand railway strikers who attacked Victoria terminus station in Bombay were dispersed by the police, who opened fire. Over 30 were injured and taken to hospital. A party of British people who were returning from a cinema, in a/motorcar were stoned by the strikers. Two, including a woman, were injured.