FAST BEGINS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 53, 4 March 1939, Page 9

FAST BEGINS.

GANDHI'S PROTEST.

Ruler of Rajkot State Rejects Ultimatum.

"ADDS FUEL TO THE FIRE."

United Press Association—Copyright.

(Received 11 a.m.)

RAJKOT, March 3

In the presence of journalists. Itandhi commenced at 6.30 a.m. the ast •which he has decided upon as a protest. There was a large assembly ot men, women and children.

After 80 minutes Gandhi received a letter from Thakore Sahib, ruler of Rajkot State, declining his demands, and Gandhi remarked: "This adds fuel to the fire."

The people of Rajkot will hold a one day strike in sympathy.

The Sahib's letter was in reply to Gandhi's threat that unless he received a satisfactory reply to his 24-hour ultimatum demanding constitutional reforms in Rajkot State, he would begin an indefinite fast at 6.30 a.m. (Greenwich mean time) to-day. He demands that the people be given a voice in the administration.

Kajkot is a State of 282 square miles, with a population of 75,540.

A message from Bombay says Congress Ministers are hoping to end Gandhi's fast. They have sent a telegram, urging Lord Linlithgow, the Viceroy, to intervene. Meanwhile, Gandhi is resting in the open air. His vitality is at its lowest.

In May, 1933, Gandhi announced that he would faat for three weeks as a "process of self-purification" and for other reasons "too eacred to be mentioned," but all "connected with the great cause of the Untouchables." As soon as he began his fast the Government released him from gaol, where he had been serving a term for civil disobedience. He then announced the suspension of the civil disobedience movement, which had been waning. At the end of three weeks he had loet 211b, and weighed only sst 101b. He was extremely weak.