CONGRESS LOSING HOLD

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21538, 9 January 1932, Page 9

CONGRESS LOSING HOLD

THE SITUATION IN INDIA GOVERNMENT DETERMINED NO DEFLECTION FROM POLICY (British Official Wireless.) (United Press Association.) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) RUGBY, January 7. Reports from Indian centres indicate that the situation is thoroughly controlled by the authorities. The general impression is that the hold which Congress earlier exercised over the wage section of Indian opinion has considerably diminished. The determination of the Government not to be deflected from its policy of constitutional reforms, outlined in the Prime Minister’s speecli at the conclusion of the Round Table Conference, is being contrasted with the barren prospect offered by the Congress agitators. At the time of the last civil disobedience campaign Congress was at its maximum strength, but after an eight years’ interval, during which it has recruited volunteers and cash, many who then supported it are now disinclined for a struggle which seems to be particularly pointless compared with the firm prospects of constitutional advance on the lines indicated by the Prime Minister.

STATESMEN TO MEET VICEROY. CONFERENCE AT DELHI. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, January 7. An interesting development in the Indian situation is the invitation extended by the Viceroy to several prominent Indian leaders and statesmen to confer with him at Delhi. The invitation has been accepted, and the meeting will take place later in the week. The invitation followed quickly upon a statement issued by Sir Tej Sapru that the Viceroy should call a conference of Indian leaders who were prepared to speak freely and fearlessly on constitutional matters. . THE NORTH-WEST FRONTIER. SITUATION COMPLICATED. DELHI, January 7. The difficult North-west Frontier situation has been further complicated by the activities of Alangir, a notorious revolutionary tribal leader, who is inciting the wild Mohmand tribesmen to revolt. It is estimated that over 1000 Air Force aeroplanes are endeavouring to locate the tribesmen, who are reported to be burning the houses of Mohmands who receive allowances from the Government for loyal service to the army and police. TERRORIST PLOTS. WHOLESALE ASSASSINATION. CALCUTTA, January 7. Plans for the wholesale assassination of Europeans have been revealed by the judicial inquiry into the Patna case, Hazarilal, one of the accused, who turned King’s evidence, stated that a terrorist gang planned to fling five bombs into an English church during the Sunday evening eeryjee, but witness’s conscience smote him, and he persuaded the conspirators to abandon the plot. Later they decided to blow up the European Club with a dozen bombs, but the close police guard defeated the project. The conspirators suspected a colleague, Ram Lalit, to be a detective, and one of the gang took him to a lonely spot and shot him dead. The police discovered five live bombs in a first class compartment ,of the North Bengal-Calcutta express.