INDIAN ASSEMBLY

Evening Star, Issue 21935, 23 January 1935, Page 7

INDIAN ASSEMBLY

NEWLY-ELECTED CONGRESSMEN TAKE SEATS IMMEDIATE CHALLENGE TO GOVERNMENT Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. DELHI, January 22. Forty-three newly-elected Congressmen entered the Legislative Assembly and occupied tbe Opposition benches at the opening of the session. They immediately challenged the Government by moving an adjournment, when Mr Satyamurti attacked the Home Department’s letter addressed to provincial Governments, disclosing speculations regarding the political potentialities of Mr Gandhi’s village industries association.

Sir Henry Craik, defending the department, said that the letters were tentative They did not contain orders, and were confidential; nevertheless, they had been published in extremist newspapers, having been cither “ stolen or sold.” Sir Henry quoted Congressmen’s speeches to support the Government’s contention that the association aimed at revolution through the villages. He added that if developments showed that that fear was baseless he would be willing to co-operate in Mr Gandhi’s work.

The House cheered the statement and talked out the motion. Contrary to his previous announcement, the Maharaja of Patiala accepted the Chancellorship of the Chamber of Princes in view of the proposed reforms and reorganisation of tbe Chamber. The Maharaja of Bikanir agreed to become a committeeman. CONGRESSMEN’S FIRST VICTORY DELHI, January 22. (Received January 23, at 12.45 p.m.) The Congressmen scored their first victory in the Legislative Assembly, carrying, amid shouts of “ Victory to Gandhi!” a motion protesting against the. alleged infringement of the Assembly’s privileges by the detention of Sarat Chandra Bose, who was elected by a Bengal constituency. The Government explained that Bose was interned owing to his subversive activities, which members’ privileges did not cover.