FAST A MISTAKE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 144, 20 May 1939, Page 9

FAST A MISTAKE.

MR GANDHI APOLOGISES. AWARD RENOUNCED. LONDON, May 18. The Bombay correspondent of the Times states that Mr Gandhi, in a statement on the Rajkot _ issue, says he is now convinced that his fast from March 3 to March 7 was coercion. Instead of asking for the intervention of the paramount Power he should have addressed his fast to Thakor Saheb, ruler at Rajkot, or his adviser, and been content to die if he had not melted their, hearts. The statement continues that the award in settlement of the dispute, instead of making his way smooth, angered the Bhayats, and consequently Mr Gandhi renounces the ■ award and apologises to the Moslems _ and Bhayats, and also to the Viceroy (Lord Linlithgow), the Chief Justice (Sir Maurice Gwycr), and others. Mr Gandhi concludes hv appealing to Thakor Saheb and his adviser to appease the Rajkot people by fulfilling their expectations. Mr Gandhi’s confession is regarded here as one of his inexplicable actions which occasionally confound friends and opponents alike. Mr Gandhi began his- fast owing to the refusal of bis demands for constitutional reforms in the Raikofc Biate and ho broke it on the condition that Thakor Saheb would implement his promises regarding the oensliitution of the advisory council of the State. A message from New Delhi, published on March 20, . stated: Sir Maurice Gwycr (Chief Justice) ruled in Mr Gandhi’s favour, holding that Thakor Saheb, of Rajkot, committed a hreach of the agreement under which Mr V. Patel, one of the Congress leaders, had full authority to select, seven members of the Rajkot Reforms Committee.