Gandhi Fasting

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 76, Issue 108, 10 May 1933, Page 7

Gandhi Fasting

RELEASE FROM PRISON GOVERNMENT'S ATTITUDE (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) CALCUTTA, May 8. Mahatma Gandhi began his fast” at noon to-day and was released by the Government at 9 o’clock at night, and taken to the Bombay bungalow of Lady Trackcrsey, widow of the Bombay Hindu millionaire. Mr Gandhi w’as released unconditionally because the Government regards the fast as genuine and not a device to obtain freedom. It docs not imply a change in the Government’s attitude towards civil disobedience. The circumstances and purposes of Mr Gandhi’s present fast are entirely different from those of the fast he underwent last year. On that occasion it was sought to bring pressure upon the Government to alter its decision on its policy. The present fast has no political significance, and is entirely dissociated from civil disobedience. Mr Gandhi has declared his intention of imposing upon himself this ordeal in order solely to forward tho removal of “Untouchability’’ and of devoting the rest of his life to that cause. He has been in Veravda Gaol for sixteen months, but could at any time have regained his liberty by renouncing the civil disobedience movement. No general amnesty of civil disobedience prisoners is contemplated by the Indian Government. OFFER TO GOVERNMENT CAMPAIGN SUSPENDED CALCUTTA, May 8. Mr Gandhi has suspended civil disobedience for one month. He told the Government that if they withdrew the ordinances and released all political prisoners he will, if he survives his fast, take up the threads he dropped at the last London Round’ Table Conference. Gandhi was sentenced to six years’ simple imprisonment in March, .1922, but was released on February 4, 1924. In April, 1930, he inaugurated a campaign for breaches of the salt laws and was interned on May 5. He was again released on January 26, .1931, and subsequently went to London to attend the India Round-Table Conference. On his return 'to India the Nationalist leader resumed his activities and on January 4, 1932, he and his associaite, Vallabhbhai Patel, president of the Congress, were arrested at Bombay in tho early morning. Two months later Gandhi threatened to fast to death as a protest against tho Government’s settlement of the communal question. After correspondence with the British Government Gandhi commenced a fast on September 26. Doctors said he had then entered the danger zone. On November 6 the Nationalist leader again threatened to fast in connection with the admission of ‘‘untouchables’’ into the temples. That fast, however, was postponed on December 29.