GANDHI'S FAST

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 37, 13 February 1943, Page 5

GANDHI'S FAST

THIRD DAY REACHED

Extreme Weapon Indicates Congress Failure

N.Z. Press Association.—Copyright Rec. noon. BOMBAY, Feb. 12. The British United Press Bombay correspondent says three doctors are watching Gandhi's health as his fast progresses. The country so far is fairly quiet, although three people were killed by a bomb explosion at Cawnpore station, and some arrests were made at demonstrations. Two of the doctors who examined Gandhi to-day reported that his condition was as good as can be expected on the third day of the fast. Rajagopalacharl, Madras Hindu leader, in a statement, said: "Behind Gandhi's fast is his hope that the Viceroy will alter his views and that something unjustly denied him will now be granted. Whatever may have been the Government's apprehensions and the reasons which it says compelled it to arrest Gandhi, there is no doubt that Gandhi expected to be free for some time, in which he would have had conversations with the Viceroy and his fellow workers before he was called on to execute his 'quit India' resolution. "It is clear that Gandhi was taken by- surprise by the Government's action. Gandhi in prison cannot judge things and advise the nation. It is obvious that he thinks the-time has arrived to review the situation. I am sure Gandhi will do all he can to stop underground activities, sabotage and violence."

Low Level of Congress Fortunes "Fasting is an extreme weapon in the armoury of non-violence, and resort to it probably reflects the low level to which Congress fortunes have fallen," says The Times Delhi correspondent. "There are no longer mass anti-government movements and outrages on behalf of Congress, but only spasmodic outbursts from a few terrorist gangs. We were bound under these circumstances to hear from Gandhi sooner or later. Probably it was not an accident that the start of-the fast coincides with the opening of the Legislative Assembly, in which his grievances can be voiced under the cloak of privilege. Strong pressure will be put on the Government to save Gandhi's life by meeting his demands, but as soon as the Government started making concessions to Congress it would have to reckon with considerable Moslem and other agitations." Professor Bhansali began a fresh fast yesterday in sympathy with Gandhi. Violence Results in 940 Deaths Sir Reginald Maxwell, Home Member of the Executive Council, disclosed in the Legislative Assembly that since the arrpst of Gandhi and the Congress Working Committee last August, to the end of 1942, the police and the military had resorted to firing on 538 occasions. They had killed 940 people, injured 1630 and arrested 60,229, while 26,000 have been convicted and 18,000 detained without trial. "Although a large number were arrested, convicted or detained," he stated, "the figures by themselves give a false impression, since large numbers have also been released, fined, or sentenced to short terms of imprisonment. The number actually taken into custody to the end of 1942 was 14,000, while 11,000 were detained under the defence of India rules."

Professor Bhansali terminated a 63-day fast on January 13, started with the object of forcing the Central Provinces Government to hold an inquiry into allegations of misbehaviour by troops and police during Congress disturbances. Bhansali is said to be an accomplished Yogi hunger-striker. His previous record was a 56-day hunger strike. His only sustenance in his last fast was almond oil rubbed into the body.