INDIAN ASSEMBLY

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12392, 11 March 1926, Page 6

INDIAN ASSEMBLY

MR PATEL EXPLAINS NO REFLECTION MEANT.

Reuter’s Teleeram DELHI, March 9. Referring to the Swaraiist walkout, Mr Patel to-day explained in the Assembly that he meant no reflection on the non-official members by his action yesterday. He merely hoped that the Government would refrain from bringing forward highly controversial questions. The Assembly is now discussing demands for grants.

The Indian Legislature consists of two Chambers —the Council of State and the Legislative Assembly. The Council of State has 69 members, of whom 34 are elected and 25 nominated. The Legislative Assembly has 144 members, 105 elected and 39 nominated. The Governor-General’s executive council now contains seven members, of whom four are natives of India, the remaining three comprising the Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army, Field-Marshal Sir William Birdwood; the Minister for Railways and Commerce, Sir C. A. Innes; and the Minister for Finance, Sir Basil Blackett. The Governor-General is emp jwered in special circumstances to overrule the majority. Although the Government does not command a .majority in the Indian Legislature, it is necessarily given the power to reject adverse votes, since Its responsibility is not to the Indian Legislature but to the Imperial Parliament in London. The seat of government is Delhi.