INEXPLICABLE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 116, 19 May 1939, Page 7

INEXPLICABLE.

Gandhi's Confession Regarding Rajkot Issue. RECENT FAST RECALLED. (Received 12 noon.) LONDON, May 18. "The Times'' Bombay correspondent says Mahatma Gandhi in a statement on the Rajkot issue says that he is now convinced that his fast from March 3 to March 7 was a coercion. Instead of asking for the intervention of the paramount Power, he should have addressed his fast to Tliakor Saheb, ruler of Rajkot, or liis adviser, and he would have j l>een content to die if it had not melted tlicir hearts. He continues to say that the Gwyer award, instead of making his way smooth, had angered Moslems and Bhayats, on account of which he renounces the award and apologises to Moslems and Bhayats and also to the . Viceroy and the Chief Justice of India, Sir Maurice Gwyer. and others. He concludes by appealing to Thakor Saheb or his adviser to appease the Rajkot people ' by fulfilling their expectations. ( Gandhi's confession is regarded here r as one of his inexplicable actions which i; occasionally confound his friends and j opponents alike. !■ Sir Maurice Gwyer on March 19 held that Thakor Saheb committed a breach of the agreement under which Mr. V. Patel, Indian Nationalist, had full ! authority to select seven members of the Rajkot Reforms Committee. The fast referred to was begun by Gandhi to support his demands for reforms in the Rajkot State.