INDIAN FESTIVAL MENACE

Taranaki Daily News, 28 April 1931, Page 9

INDIAN FESTIVAL MENACE

FEAR OF RELIGIOUS STRIFE

APPEAL TO THE MOHAMMEDANS.

URGED NOT TO SLAUGHTER COWS.

By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. - Calcutta, April 26. Bengal, in common with the rest of the provinces in India, is uneasy regarding the outcome of the Mohammedan festival of Bakrin on Wednesday next. Appeals are being made by public men in responsible journals to Mohammedans to celebrate the day by elaughter of goats, and to avoid the sacrifice of cows, which are sacred to Hindus. The latter are also exhorted to refrain from playing provocative music in the neglibourhood of the mosques while the occupants are engaged in prayers. The lessons of the recent savagery at Cawnpore shows how suddenly these troubles develop, making the 'authorities’ task ot keeping order most difficult with limited police. The most dangerous centres seem to be in the United Provinces.

HOSTILITY FOR TOLERATION.

ANSWER TO GOVERNMENT POLICY. Rec. 8.5 p.m. Delhi, April 27. Replying to an address on landowners Sir Geoffrey de Montmorency, Governor of the Punjab, declared that the answer to the Government’s recent policy of toleration had been a renewal of hostile demonstration and incitement to violence. The time had come to control ’ ; and the Government would undertake the task without further ado.

A grave situation prevails on the north-west frontier and the administration may have to ask the central Government for powers to prevent the spread of hostile, subversive movements. Trouble is being caused by red shirts and a youthful league at Charsadda, who are openly anti-British.