SUSPENDED FOR A MONTH

Stratford Evening Post, Volume II, Issue 239, 10 May 1933, Page 7

SUSPENDED FOR A MONTH

GANDH!’S DISOBEDIENCE CAMPAIGN Press Association —Copyright Calcutta,' May 8. Gandhi has .suspended the civil cl is- i obedience campaign ior one monin. He ! told the Government that if it with- j drew its ordinances and released all i political prisoners he will, if he survives his fast, take up the threads lie dropped at the last London round-table j conference. i A British Official Wireless message j stales that the circumstances and purposes of Gandhi’s present fast arc entirely different from those of the fast he underwent last year. On that occasion it was sought to bring pressure upon j the Government to alter the decision on j its policy. The present fast has no polhii cal significance and is entirely dissoci- j I ated from civil disobedience. ! | Gandhi has declared his intention of imposing upon himself this ordeal in j order solely to forward the removal of “Untouchabilily,” and is devoting the rc- ; maindcr of his life to that cause. He has | been in the Yoravda gaol 1G months, but ! could at any time have regained his j liberty by renouncing the civil dbobedi- ! ence movement. | No general amnesty of civil disohedij ence prisoners is contemplated by the j Government. j . Gandhi informed the Press on May 1 j | that he had decided unconditionally and j j ircrvoctibly to fast for 21 days. His fast, | j lie said, was a heart prayer to God for | .! purification of himself and his associ- ; | atas in the groat work of improving the | lot of India’s untouchables and outcasts, i Many people thought the fast was part I of a deep political game, but he assured ; them that il, was purely religious. -He ! had no desire to die. but was prepared to i do so if God willed. j Bombay doctors declared that Gandhi j 1 if he carried out his fast threat would j I not live for 21 days because his consfitu- | I tion was so frail. Gandhi said nothing j i would persuade him to abandon his deci- j j sion.