STORMY PETREL

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXII, Issue 13, 29 December 1931, Page 7

STORMY PETREL

f GANDHI’S RETURN ♦ SIGNAL TOR NEW OUTBREAKS. UNTOUCHABLES’ HOSTILE DEMONSTRATION. •United Preet Association—By CableCop/rignt.) (Received W, 10.15 a.m.) Delhi, December 28. With Gandhi’s arrival from Europe this morning, Bombay witnessed a revival of the disturbances from which the city has been remarkably free during the past few months. While the Congressmen planned an elaborate reception, members of the untouchable caste, declaring that Gandhi had neglected their claims at the London conference, greeted the Congress chief with hostile cries and processions carrying black flags. Shortly before dawn, 1000 untouchables marched to the pier, where they were confronted with a similar number of Congressmen. Fighting ensued in which 12 Congress men, including two leaders, wore injured. Gandhi leaded at 8 o’clock, almost hidden by garlands of flowers presented to him by women. He drove to the Congress headquarters, ignoring a decorated car, and demanded details of the situation throughout the country. OTHER DISTURBANCES. A (United Press Association—By Cable— Copyright.) (Received 29, 10.5 a.m.) Calcutta, December 28. Many were injured during rioting between Moslems and Hindus at Lahore last night, following the fatal stabbing of a Moslem youth in a quarrel with a Hindu. Several Hindu shops were looted. British troops had to restore order. All processions and meetings are banned for six days. A serious clash occurred at the village of Saibasu, 30 miles from Cawnpore, between the police and peasant Congressmen, who refused to pay rent to the Government. Several were injured. The arrest of 200 frontier "Red Shirts” and the sentencing of 48 of them to six months’ hard labour quietened the situation there. It appears that the objective of about 300 ‘‘Red Shirts” was to force their way into Kohat, but the troops foiled their plan. DEPLORABLE SITUATION. BRITISH PREMIER’S COMMENTS. (United Press Association—By CableCopyright.) London, Dec. 28. “The whole situation is most deplorable,” said the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. Ramsay MacDonald, commenting on the renewed Indian disorders. ‘lt is very hard, when the Government has given greater proof than its predecessors of readiness, in conjunction with Indian leadens, to agree to a very large broadening of freedom, that exponents of violence and disorder should have dashed the offered cup from India’s lips. The J recent events do not represent the ■ baffled and oppressed India struggling free, but is a mischievous movement trampling upon Indian progress. Every Indian caring for the Motherland must see therein the hand of mischief instead of the spirit of emancipation.”