SETTLEMENT REACHED

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 75, 26 September 1932, Page 7

SETTLEMENT REACHED

REPRESENTATION IN INDIA

GANDHI TO END FAST

Pnlted t Press Association—By Electric Tele-

graph—Copyright;

CALCUTTA, 24th September.

A settlement was reached this afternoon between the caste Hindus and the depressed classes' leaders of the problem of representation in the Legislatures of the depressed classeS, and Mx. Gandhi will end his fast on Monday. ■■■ ■:-•:■

A draft pact, which includes provision for 150 provincial council seats for representatives of the depressed classes, is being drawn up for submission to the British Prime Minister, with, an "appeal to the Government to expedite its decision. . ■'■■.' ' .• ; •"■■'■■ -■' ■'■■■■•.■

Mr. Gandhi is growing weaker. He is unable to keep awake.- during the day, and;,hiß voice is feeble. He, condemns; the 'action v of his; followers in fasting in sympathy with himj; and Has appealed to them to exert tHeir energies for the eradication pt untoiichability.

Mr. Gandhi's fast, which began.last Tuesday, 'was undertaken as a protest against a proposal in the British' Government's communal award whereby the depressed classes, while being permitted" .to qualify t for votes in .the general Hindu community, were for a period; of .twenty years assured of a" minimum number of spokesmen in the Legislatures through separate electorates. Mr. Gandhi vowed that he .would fast unto death, or until the award in this respect was modified. .'•••-' >

The allocation of seats in the lower' houses of provincial .legislatures under the British. Government's,, scheme for settlement .of the communal problem gave the'depressed classes a total of 71. This was without Bengal, where the number was not to exceed 10, but where a.figure had not been fixed. The total number of scats for all classes was 1748.