UNREST IN INDIA

Evening Star, Issue 20591, 17 September 1930, Page 8

UNREST IN INDIA

WEEKLY SURVEY OF SITUATION ACTIVITIES OF CONGRESS UNPOPULAR METHODS. (British Official Wireless.) Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright, RUGBY, September 16. (Received September 17, at noon.) The Government of India, in its weekly survey of the situation, says: “ The general trend of public opinion outside Congress circles regarding tho breakdown of the recent peace conversations is to lay the responsibility on the Congress leaders. Tho absence of anything in the nature of a practical constructive programme shows how far, the Congress is from the everyday affairs of administration, especially in the provinces, since the acceptance of its proposals would condemn the re-formed Provincial Governments at the 4 beginning of the new Constitution to financial stagnation, and would deprive them indefinitely of the means of carrying out a progressive policy m the fields of education, medical relieg, scientific agriculture, and other beneficent activities. Its proposal that picketing should continue, even after the civil disobedience movement is abandoned, is, also unpopular, since it represents action in restraint of trade, which would prejudicially affect the interests of thousands of Indian traders without any limit of time. The trading community is realising more than ever the significance of the Congress tryanny, and this, particular threat is likely to hasten the revolt against its method. “ Moderate opinion is rallying in support of the Indian Round Table Conference as an agency through which practical issues can be examined and disoussed in an atmosphere of reason and goodwill. “Meanwhile there is a progressive decline in tho enthusiasm in places where the Congress activities were, prominent early in the civil disobedience campaign, and in places to which the movement has recently extended. Vigorous action has had more rapid and effective results than similar measures had a few months ago. Nevertheless the need for such action has been increased by the growing tendency to violence shown by tho rank and file. Tho profession of non-violence has been frequently ignored, and force has been required to restore authority. “ The success achieved by the Congress in the boycott of the elections to legislative bodies has varied in different places. Broadly speaking, the Mohammedans will not tolerate,interference in tho elections to seats reserved for that community, and Congress left them alone in regard to non-Mohammedan seats. The success of Congress was most marked in some of the Gujerat districts, where comparatively few Hindus xoted.”

“ The educational boycott,” says the survey, “is definitely on the decline,’ and is likely to fail within a lew weeks. The main activities of Congress Will then probably be the boycott of foreign goods and a ‘no tax campaign.’ The latter is aimed at enlisting the sympathies of the rural classes. Attempts may be made to revive breaches of the salt laws.

“ Regarding the North-west frontier, except at the head of the Eurram Valley, where a fair amount of sporadic fighting occurred, tho tribal areas of the province remained quiet during the week. It was reported that an emissary from Kabul had reached hostile tribesmen in the Peiwar area, with orders from the King and Prime Minister of Afghanistan to cease their activities.”A SERIOUS THRSE PEOPLE KI^EO Press Association-By Telegraph-Copyright, DELHI, September 16. A police officer and three villagers were killed and a number of Others were injured in a riot in the village of Bulandshani, in the United Provinces. An attempt was made to attack tho police station when the police fired ok tho crowd.