OFFICE ACCEPTED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22776, 9 July 1937, Page 11

OFFICE ACCEPTED

INDIAN DECISION CONGRESS PARTY'S AIMS WILL OPPOSE CONSTITUTION By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright WARDHA, July 7 , The working committee of the AllIndia Congress has decided that the party should accept Ministerial office under the new Constitution in the States in which they were given a majority in tho recent general elections. Tho resolution of the working committee stipulates that followers, in accepting office, will observe Congress Party's policy of combating the new Act on the one hand and prosecuting a constructive policy on the other. A formula states that office is to be accepted for the purpose of working in accordance with the lines laid down in the Congress election manifesto. It is expected that tho first moves will be to release prisoners sentenced for revolutionary activities, the restoration of property confiscated from offenders and tho limitation of the powers of the police. Satyamurti, deputy leader of the Congress Party in tho Central Legislature, telegraphed Gandhi, who drafted the resolution, saving: " The fight is now on on all fronts."

The Congress Party has majorities in the provinces of Bombay, Madras, Orissa, Central Provinces, Bihar and the United Provinces, in each of which the party previously declined to form Ministries. Non-Congress Ministries, commanding Parliamentary majorities, have been formed in Bengal, the Punjab and 'Sind. A coalition Ministry under Mohammedan leadership has been constituted in Assam.