COMPLETE FREEDOM

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24949, 23 June 1942, Page 3

COMPLETE FREEDOM

NOTHING LESS FOR INDIA MR GANDHI'S DECLARATION NEW DELHI, June 21. Mr Gandhi, writing in Harijan, refutes suggestions that he supports Mr Chandra Bose, who is at present in Europe seeking Axis help. "I do not woo any foreign Power to aid India to free herself from the British yoke," he states. "Such Powers would not come as deliverers, but as sharers of the spoils. My appreciation of Bose's sacrifice and patriotism does not blind rne to the fact that his misguided way will never lead to India's deliverance." Mr Gandhi said it was at present hecessary to tolerate the presence of the British because of Anglo-Chinese defence, but Britain should yield complete political power to an Indian National Government representing all parties. "Then India, finding herself fully free, will not want the Japanese to enter," he writes. " Her'sullenness and discontent will become joyful and hearty co-operation with the Allies. Because the National Government would include spokesmen of India's many martial races, the national policy would incline towards modified militarism, but I hope a strong party of true adherents to non-violence would continue to exist." Fazai Huq, Premier of Bengal, proDoses to create a rival body to the Moslem League called the Progressive All-Jndia Moslem League. Huq, in a statement, said the present Moslem League's policy was neither Islamic nor patriotic. It pretended to serve the Moslems alone, but really was leading even-the Moslems to political ruin and disaster. THE CONGRESS DEMAND WITHDRAWAL OF BRITISH POWER. (Rec. 10.30 p.m.) LONDON, June 21. According to the Calcutta correspondent of the Daily Mail, the president of the Indian National Congress, Dr Maulana Azad, in an interview, said the Congress Party was not demanding the withdrawal of the British Army, only the withdrawal of British power. The party wished to co-operate fully with Britain against aggression aimed at a free India. He added that the majority of Congress did not hold with Mr Gandhi's non-violence views. They would call the nation to arms once Britain granted India's freedom, so that the country might form an alliance with the United Nations against the Axis.