STARVATION THREAT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 126, 30 May 1935, Page 7

STARVATION THREAT

A RELIGIOUS PROTEST SIKH LEADERS’ REPLY. CALCUTTA, May 28. Alarmed at the threat of 40 Sikh women to starve to death, prominent Sikh leaders throughout India have appealed to the women’s leader to postpone the fast on a promise that the leaders will meet in Lahore in an endeavour to settle the differences in the community. A message from Calcutta, dated Ma\ 19, stated: “oFrty high caste Sikh women have announced their deter mination to starve themselves to deatl as a protest against the differences ir the reliigous leadership of Northern India.’ Mrs. Amrit Kaur, a prominent Sikh women’s leader, in announcing the decision, stated that the community a present is disunited, torn by disputes and the laughing stock of the world The Sikhs were denied political right; in the Punjab Province and were jg nored by Government and the Congress Party. Their great temples had become citadels of individual power and cor ruption, and the leaders were quar celling with each other.” Mrs. Kaur added: ‘‘The women wil slowly die. They will never retract once the fast has begun. They wil fast in a secret spot unknown even t< their near relatives.”