INDIAN UNREST

Manawatu Standard, Volume LII, Issue 108, 7 April 1932, Page 7

INDIAN UNREST

HINDUS AND MOSLEMS. INCREASING TENSION. GRAVE CONFLAGRATION THREATENED. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) Received April 7, 10.5 a.m. CALCUTTA, April 6. Despite the fact that Gandhi and all the principal leaders and over 60,000 adherents are at present in gaol m connection with the civil disobedience movement, the Indian National Congress is proposing to hold the fortyseventh annual session at New Delhi at the end of the month, in defianco of the Government ban on the organisation.

The increasing tension between the Hindus and Moslems is threatening a grave conflagration at Oawnpore and other towns in Northern India. Many Moslems have been compelled to close • their shops, and dealers frequently have been stoned by pickets. Meanwhile villagers in East Bengal, which is a hotbed of sedition, are being terrorised by bands of youthful raiders, who daringly hold up post offices and rich moneylenders, decamping with large sums, which are devoted to tiio purchase of arms and ammunition.

SECRETARY OF STATE’S REVIEW

CONTINUED IMPROVEMENT,

(British Official Wireless.) Received April 7, 8.5 a.m. RUGBY, April 6. Reviewing the Indian political situation, Sir Samuel Hoare, Secretary of State for India, said that the general situation had continued to snow an improvement during the past fortnight, and tho number of convictions in connection with tho civil disobedience movement showed a decline ill the United Provinces, Bihar, Orissa and the Central Provinces. In the Punjab attempts by Ahrars to revive picketing in the Amritsar Province were ineffectual. On the frontier, the situation in Bajaur continued to improve. There were signs of communal tension in certain areas.

Sir Samuel Hoare added that a motion in the Legislative Assembly against pressing oil with constitutional reforms while Gandhi was in gaol was defeated without a division.