THE INDIAN PROBLEM

Evening Star, Issue 20994, 7 January 1932, Page 9

THE INDIAN PROBLEM

M UNTOWARD DEVELOPMENTS CONGRESS BUSY IN BOMBAY Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. CALCUTTA, January 6. The swiftness of the Government’s action has temporarily paralysed the Congress, The organisation of the threatened disobedience campaign has not yet started, and in many quarters it is held that it never will start. Bombay seems the strong point of the Congress’s attack, supporters having promised men and money for the campaign, while merchants have said that they hre prepared for a month’s hartal or complete cessation of business. The city at present is quiet, and the hartal is barely noticeable, the general evidence suggesting that the inhabitants have no stomach for the campaign. The fact is that the hot heads went blindly ahead, dragging Mr Gandhi with them, and no real campaign adequate to the changed situation exists. The leaders mistakenly counted on being given a certain interval by the Government to set their battle array and stimulate enthusiasm by whirlwind propaganda.

Meanwhile the Government is pressing forward its arrangements for continuing the Bound Table Conference, and the names of the Indian delegates for various committees on which Mr Gandhi was to have served will be announced this week. The situation on the North-west Frontier shows distinct improvement. CONGRESS HEADQUARTERS RAIDED IN BOMBAY. CALCUTTA, January 6. (Received January 7, at 9 a.m.) Following the arrest of Mr Patel the police made a raid on Congress headquarters at Bombay. They hauled down the Congress flag and replaced it with the Union Jack, which is now flying gallantly over the building. The Congress offices are closed. Further arrests include V. J. Patel, a brother of Yallabhai Patel, and former president of the Legislative Assembly. OVER ONE HUNDRED ARRESTS CALCUTTA, January 6. (Received January 7, at 10 a.m.) 'A’strong force of police rounded up congressmen, raider party organisations in Bombay at dawn, and arrested over 100, including Yallabhai Patel and nine prominent women leaders. One man was killed when the Benares police were forced to fire on a crowd which was attempting to hold a meeting of protest against the arrests of congressmen. CONGRESS SUPPORTERS STUNNED TOO EARLY TO GAUGE GENERAL EFFECT. LONDON, January 6. (Received January 7, at 9 a.m.) The Delhi correspondent of ‘The Times’ says that the strength and rapidity of the successive Government attacks have seemingly stunned the supporters' of Congress, but it is too early to gauge the general effect on India. Clearly the storm may break anywhere at any moment. The real test may come in a day or two., NO SERIOUS TROUBLE FURTHER EMERGENCY ORDINANCES (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, January 6. (Received January 7, at noon.)

'An extensive round-up of Congress leaders is taking place in Bombay. Among others taken into custody were Nariman, head of the Bombay Congress Committee, and Nagindas, one of the chief organisers of the civil disobedience campaign. No serious trouble has been encountered by the police. A clash between the police and a crowd in Benares resulted from the police being pelted with stones. The ‘ Daily News ’ states: “ Reports from all parts of India and particularly the north, show that the efforts to organise hartals and other demonstrations against the Government’s action have fallen flat.’’ FURTHER ORDINANCES. Further emergency ordinances issued yesterday give special powers to the magistracy for coping with the civil dis* obedience movement. Broadly speaking, the ordinances now in force have been drafted in the light of the earlier experiences of Congress activities, and are designed to counter these promptly, and with the minimum of disturbance. The ‘ Manchester Guardian,’ in a survey of these measures, says that while the area affected by the emergency powers may bo extended if required, the Government will naturally be anxious to avoid as far as possible putting measures into force that would interfere with the normal movements of the population.