DISLOYALTY IN INDIA.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXVI, Issue 18438, 23 March 1922, Page 5

DISLOYALTY IN INDIA.

SERIOUS HAPPENINGS IN PESHAWAR. DELHI, March 21. In consequence of the intimidation and violence offered to Government servants and loyalists during the Royal visit and subsequent hostility, there have been many arrests in Peshawar City, with a view to checking the spread of lawlessness. As it is impossible to protect Government servants in Peshawar City, the post and telegraph offices have been closed. Sympathisers demonstrated during the arrests and stoned the police, who had recourse to frequent baton charges. It transpires that resulting intimidation by agitators caused the closing of all shops for two days during the Royal visit, and prevented numerous people seeing the festivities. Agitators jeered and cursed loyalists, destroyed shops, and tore down decorations. There was widespread molestation, particularly of service pensioners.

GANDHI’S SENTENCE.

LITTLE EXCITEMENT CREATED. DELHI, March 20. Gandhi’s sentence created little excitement. Partial hartals have been declared in various localities, but there is no organised mourning, partially attributable to the fact that Gandhi is a Hindu and Mohammedans remember that Hindus did not demonstrate when the AH Brothers, who are Mohammedans, were sentenced. Newspapers are surprised at the length of the sentence. Moderate native papers are still convinced that the arrest and sentence were a great mistake which the Government will regret. The non-co-operation movement is dying of inanition after the suspension of disobedience, and now the treatment of Gandhi is tantamount to martyrdom, giving fresh impetus to a frankly seditious movement.

From the gaol Gandhi has issued a farewell message enjoining his followers to preach and practice nonviolence, while Mrs. Gandhi says that, though sorry her husband has been incarcerated, his release is securable ’through strict attention to his behests and programme for swaraj.