INDIAN ASSEMBLY

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22200, 10 December 1946, Page 5

INDIAN ASSEMBLY

FIRST MEETING

MOSLEMS’ BOYCOTT

FRAMING CONSTITUTION

(10.30 a.m.) NEW DELHI. Dec. 9. The Indian new Constituent Assembly. under the temporary chairmanship of the oldest member. Dr. Sinha, aged 75. met for the first time to begin the task of framing a new constitution for India. The Assembly was attended by 200 members, including the chairman. Seventy-four Moslem League members, responding to the league's boycott decision, did not attend.

Looking to Other Countries

Dr. Sinha. in his speech, said that because Britain had no constituent law the Assembly had to look to other countries in framing the constitution. Switzerland, Europe’s oldest republic, had no constituent law. but had several features which had been recommended to Indian constitution makers. France was the only other European State with a constitution that the Indians could advantageously study. The Assembly would give most attention to the American constitution which had been a model for all subsequent constitution?. including France and the British Dominions.

The Assembly, after two hours’ formal proceedings, adjourned until tomorrow.

With the exception of four Sikh members, one Communist member from Bengal, a Moslem unionist from Punjab and Dr. Ambedkar. who represents the anti-Congrcss element among the Scheduled Castes, all the rest of the 221 members of the Constituent Assembly are cither Congress Parly members or Liberals and others elected by by Congress votes, points out The Times’ correspondent in Delhi. Clear Field for Congress

Congress, with the remaining 75 Moslem League members boycotting the Assembly, will thus in the early stages have an almost clear field. Much will depend on the degree of reasonableness and moderation which Congress shows. If Congress decides to ride roughshod over the Moslem claims or ignore the British Government statement, it will prejudice the whole future course of India's constitutional progress.

Five persons were injured yesterday in a fresh outbreak of stabbings in widely separated areas of Bombay. The police fired to stop stoning and acid throwing. The police rounded up 114 suspects in connection with stabbing incidents.