Architect of Swaraj – 4

He   accepted   the   invitation only when pressed by Gandhi. Many talukas of Maharashtra were threatened with increase in land revenue and the  people sought the opinion of Vallabhbhai Patel. He told them plainly that such campaigns could be successful if the peasants had no fear of the Government and were prepared to suffer.


Next  Patel  was  invited  by  C.  Rajagopalachari   to  be  the President of Tamil Nadu Political  Conference. Sensing the reluctance of Vallabhbhai Patel, he requested  Gandhi to  intervene. Sardar agreed at the instance  of  Gandhi. The Conference was held at Vedaranyam in August. After  the  Conference  he  toured  along with Rajaji all over the province  and  spoke in every village he visited. In almost all his speeches he stressed  the need for constructive work and the futility of shouting slogans, passing resolutions and making speeches. He asked the people to unite and forget their quarrels and bickerings. And when he noticed the controversy between the Brahmins and the non-Brahmins in that province, he was greatly perturbed and said, "Why are you so envious of Brahmins ? What harm have they done ? Do you not know what harm  those other  Brahmins (the British) have done both to you and to these Brahmins ? Those people have come from 5.000 miles to rule over this country and have become the real" Brahmins. They have no caste and yet both you and the Brahmins worship them as if they were Brahmins."

From Tamil Nad  Patel went to Karnatak at the instance of Gangadhar Rao Deshpande who was trying hard to establish a Peasant League there. In all he addressed ten meetings. The main theme of these speeches was that people should give up the fear of Government officers and of jails. He exhorted them to give up foreign cloth and drink and petty quarrels.

When he was delivering these speeches Gangadhar Rao felt as if B.G. Tilak himself was speaking. Earlier, Rajaji too had felt like that. After Karnatak, Patel toured  Bihar for about a fortnight. He was pained to see the peasants suffering endlessly at the bands of zamindars.

Asking them not to fear death, he said, "Why are you afraid of death? Is the zamindar immortal?  One has to die but once. But it is neither for the Government nor the zamindar to say when you are to die. That is in the hands of God."At a meeting he castigated the people of Bihar for having kept their women in purdah. He said "Are you not ashamed that you keep your women in Purdah? Who are these ladies. Your mothers, your sisters, your wives. Do you really believe that only by keeping them in Purdah you can look after their chastity?" He further added, "If I could I would say to these ladies: Rather than be wives to such cowardly husbands, divorce them."

Patel's tours proved very useful. Everywhere he exhorted people to face tyranny and become fearless and thus prepared the masses for the next satyagraha. It also made Patel very popular. When the Lahore session of the Indian National Congress was to be held he was tipped for Presidentship. But he politely declined the offer as Mahatma Gandhi wanted Jawaharlal Nehru to be the President. So Jawaharlal Nehru was elected President though ten provinces had recommended the name of Patel and only three had recommended the name of Nehru.

Patel was not tempted by the lure of office. He devoted his time and energy to educating the people for the forthcoming Civil Disobedience Movement. Gandhi was to commence his Satyagraha March on 12th March from Sabarmati Ashram to Dandi along with 78 other followers. Patel was going ahead of Gandhi to rouse the people and prepare them for Civil Disobedience. He told them not to be afraid of jails, not to join the struggle in large numbers and to fill the prisons. When he had gone to address one such meeting at Ras on March 7, he was restrained by Magistrate from addressing the meeting. As he insisted on making the speech he was arrested before he had uttered a sentence and was sentenced to three months and there weeks imprisonment. Patel was released on 26th June and again devoted his time to infusing new spirit in the people. He told them that they would feel more happy in such times to be inside the jail than outside. Patel was again arrested on 1st August for participating in procession to mark Tilak's death anniversary. He was released in November, 1930 and was served with a prohibitory order against making speeches. He delivered a harmless speech on the opening of a khadi bhandar at Bombay. This was quite a good excuse for the Government and they arrested him and sentenced him to 9 months imprisonment. But before he could complete his term he was released in March along with other members of the Congress Working Committee so that they could be in Delhi for consultation with Gandhi who was holding talks with the Viceroy. The outcome of these talks was the Gandhi Irwin pact which was signed on 5th March. According to this Pact,  all political prisoners were released. The Congress agreed to take part in the Second Round Table Conference and called off the Civil Disobedience Movement.

Patel become the President of the Congress session which was held in Karachi at the end of March, 1931. The youth of the country were agitated, for, a day before the Congress session commenced, Bhagat Singh had been executed with his two associate, Raj Guru and Sukhdeo for having murdered a police officer, Mr. Saunders. Bhagat Singh was at that time at the pinnacle of his glory and people had asked Gandhi to exercise his influence with the Viceroy and save his life. Gandhi had tried his best but failed. People resented this and asked Gandhi how, if he could not save Bhagat Singh, he could expect to gain anything with his non-violence.

In his presidential address which was brief, concise and to the point, he said, "You have called a simple farmer to the highest office to which any Indian can aspire."

The most difficult task of the session was to get the Gandhi Irwin Pact approved. Patel told the youth that he was aware that many young friends were deeply hurt by this agreement. He assured them that "if nothing comes out of the Conference the struggle would be resumed. That might mean that we allow six months to slip away." He counselled patience to the youth and said, "Gandhiji is now almost 63 years old, I am 56. Should we, the old,be anxious for Independence or you, the young? because we are interested in seeing India Independent before we die, it is we who are far more anxious, and in a greater hurry than you--why all this impatience."

The young men saw reason and passed the resolution approving Gandhi-Irwin Pact. Strangely enough, Jawaharlal Nehru, who was deadly against this pact, himself moved the resolution. Thus ended the Karachi Session.

As anticipated, nothing came out of the Round Table Conference. Gandhi returned to India on 28th December, 1931 and found that repressive measures had been started in his absence. Both Gandhi and Patel were arrested in Bombay on 4th January, 1932 and both were lodged together in Yeravda Jail.

When Patel was in jail a conference was held at Delhi by the Congress leaders who favoured Council-entry under the chairmanship of Dr. Ansari. Gandhi did not want to stand in their way and issued a statement on 7th April, 1934 suspending Civil Disobedience Movement. Once the Movement was suspended the Government gave up repressive measures and released all political prisoners and also lifted the ban on the Congress.

 

TO BE CONTINUE…..

Courtesy : ARCHITECT OF SWARAJ
Page – 83-85

TODAY THAT DAY : 18 NOVEMBER 1940

India Congress Leader's Arrest


 

Ahmedabad, Sunday.

Mr. Vallabhbhai Patel, chairman of All-India Congress Parliamentary Committee, was arrested today under the Defence Rules.,

It had been reported on Saturday that Mr. Patel was to court arrest by resorting to "Civil Disobedience" by any-war activities.--Reuter.

TODAY THAT DAY : 15 NOVEMBER 1930

DELHI NEWSPAPERS RAIDED


Several police raids were made on Congress premises in Delhi yesterday and property and pamphlets were seized (reports the British United Press)


The branch offices of the India National Congress, the Women's Congress offices, the offices of the "Hindustan Times" and those of the Jawahar Press, as well as the residences of the editor and publisher of the newspapers, were visited and 2,000 copies of a pamphlet were seized.


This pamphlet was entitled "Eight Week's Interlude," and was written by Pundit Jawaharlal Nehru, former President of the Indian National Congress, who had been prosecuted for his activities in the passive resistance movement.


Kharak Bahadur Singh, who was with Gandhi in the raid on the Dharsana salt pans, was arrested at the railway station while on his way to meet Mr. Vallabhai Patel at Ahmedabad

THE MEDICAL AMMENDMENT BILL

We are really sorry that the BIll to amend the Medical Registration Act, which tbe Hon. Mr. V. J. Patel introduced in the Bombay' Legislative Council, was thrown ont on its first reading. The voting was 20 for and 24 against the Bill. A rather amusing incident occurred when the Council passed to the next item of business. Mr. Patel asked the PresIdent whether the three gentlemen who had been appointed to the Council as “experts" for the special purpose of the Medical Bill, were entitled to take part in tbe other business before the Counctl. His Excellency replied that they were not, and the three gentlemen had to make a hasty exit from the Council Chamber. But for tbese three gentlemen,
the majority against Mr. Patel's Bill would have been only one. The position of the “expert" nominated in such circumstances is somewhat ridiculous, and we hope that, in future, whenever "experts" are appointed, it may be possible to so arrange things as to enable them to make their exit in a less conspicnous manner. We have beard some flippant Similes regarding the part of the three medical "experts" at the legislatIve fanction in connection with the Medical Bill, and it is due to the gentlemen whom Government are pleased to honour in that way that they should not be exposed to cheap raillery. The provision in Mr. Patel's Bill which evoked opposition was that which sought to exclude expressly the study, practice, management of institutions, and professional association with practitioners, of “the Ayorvedic, Unani, or other indigenous systems of medicine," from the category of “infamous conduct" under the Act. The Medical Council in Bombay seems to have taken action against a gentleman who conducts an Ayurvedic College for "infamons conduct," and the Bill sought to provide against similar contingencies in future. Sir Mahadev Chaubal’s argument that there is an appeal against the Medical Council’s decision to Government, and against Government’s decision to the High Court, is not to the point which is that it is improper for a body of medical men exclusively of one school, organised under the auspices of and subsidised by Government, to declare it “infamous” conduct on the part of any medical man even to associate as a consultant with an Ayurvedic or Unani practitioner. “Infamous” of course, has a technical significance, but even so, if this pretension does not mean that the Ayurvedic and Unani doctors are to be ragarded as “untonchables” and pariahs of the profession, we do not know what it does mean. The phrase “or other indigenous systems of medicine” was, of course vague and lent itself easily to attack. Sir Mahadev Chaubal took advantage of it and raised, or attempted to raise, a laugh in the Council by referring to naka dolacha vaidya, wayside eye doctors, who, according to the Hon. Member, swarmed about the gates of Government House in Poona, as likely to be included in Mr. Patel’s category. If it is the fact that these vaidyas haunt the road near Government House, His Excellency, with his constant consideration for those needing help, as splendidly illustrated by his placing Government House at Mahableshwar at disposal of the families of officers who have gone to the front, will, perhaps, consider the desirability of establishing an eye hospital or dispensary in the neighbourhood of Government House whose splendours would seem to have an injurious effect on the eyes of those who frequent its vicinity. If Sir Mahadev had been less anxious to score a superficial point, and more desirous of helping to improve this piece of entirely reasonable legislation, he might have suggested to Mr. Patel, in Select Committee, to insert the word “recognised” in the loosely-worded phrase. “Other recognised indigenous systems,” will mean systems which have a literature behind them, and which are taught and learnt in a systematic manner. The result of the voting in the Council on Mr. Patel’s Bill is to leave matters worse than they were before it was introduced. The Ayurvedic and Unani systems have been pronounced by several speakers, official and other, to be quackery. The average man, no doubt, will still prefer to be healed by a quack to die unattended out of deference to the susceptibilities of the Medical Council. He will not be deterred by the verdict of the Council from resorting to the practitioner who can treat his ailments at a charge within his means. We have ourselves known at least one case, for which practitioners of the official system could do nothing, so thoroughly cured by an indigenous doctor (a Mahomedan) that subsequest of medical examination by the official doctors failed to reveal the least trace of the rheumatism. When the whilom suflerer told the examiners that he has had a bad attack of rheumatism they said it could not have been rheumatism, as every attack leaves some trace of it on the patient’s heart. This Mahomedan gentleman, belonged to the family of hereditary physicians to the Raja of Taujore. He was not himself a direct descendant but he had married the daughter of the Court Physician. This lady had acquired such a competent know ledge of her father’s science that when her husband, the practitioner, felt any difficulties about a case, he used to go behind the curtain which separated his zenana from his consulting room, and take the advice of his wife as to the course of treatment to be followed.

 

The only effect of the Bill being thrown out by the Council, will be to dater the medical graduates of our Universities from interesting themselves in the indigenous systems. This is a pity, because it is they that can best sift the chaff from the grain, and assimilate to Medical Science, which belongs neither to the East nor to the West, all that is valuable in the Indian systems. Any one who ventures to openly associate himself with Ayurvedic or Unani studies may be branded for “infamous conduct”. but we are sure that this will not deter all of them from taking up the study of the old systems. Even if there is nothing in them, it is better to have it conclusively established that this is the case. We, of course, have no sympathy with orthodoxy in any form. We have been recently reading a very suggestive work entitled “Professionalism and Originality,” in which the writer maintains that professionalism kills originality. Qualified medical men who are stigmatised as quakes, because of their study of the indigenous systems, may take comfort from the fact that the great Pasteur had to suffer similar indignity at the hands of the professionals of his time. Nobody wants to supersede modern anatomy or surgery by the ancient methods. But there are other departments of the healing art, in regard which modern medical science is quite as empirical as the more ancient systems. It is here that the study of the indigenous systems is likely to be most fruitful. His Excellency th Governor threw out the suggestion that the indigenous systems must have their own seperate organisation. This can be done only if Government extend to them some measure of patronage as in the case of the modern orthodox system. His Highness the Nizam’s Government supports both the modern and the indigenous systems by official recognition and liberal grants. We should be glad if the Government of Bombay follow this excellent example. Only in that case, can His Excellency’s suggestion become a practical proposition.

 

Indian Social Reformer : October 14, 1917 Page : 76

GREATEST POLITICAL LEADER

Mr. V. J. Patel said they had met there under the shadow of a great calamity. Deshbandhu Das, the greatest political leader of India, had gone. He was the Mayor of Calcutta under the new municipal Constitution and he sacrificed his all in the cause of his country. He was a great soul and it was with a heavy heart that he (Mr. Patel) rose to move the resolution asking the Corporation to adjourn the meeting.

Mr. Patel then moved:



  1. That the Corporation place on record their sense of the heavy loss sustained by the country in the sad and untimely death on the 16th June 1~25 of Deshbandhu Chitta Ranjan Das Mayor of the Calcutta Corporation, whose ardent patriotism, deep and abiding love for the Motherland, selfless devotion to her cause and noble self-sacrifice in her service won for him the esteem and admiration of his countrymen who regard his death at the present Juncture as a national calamity.
  2. That a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the Corporation of Calcutta and to the family of the deceased, with an expression of the Corporation's sympathy in their sad bereavement.
  3. That as a mark of respect to the memory of the deceased the Corporation do adjourn Without proceeding to the transaction of business.

Continuing he said It was impossible for him to express in words his feelings on this occasion and he would content himself merely with moving the resolution.



Indian Opinion : JULY 24 1925

DECLARE SARDAR PATEL'S HOME AND SCHOOL IN KARAMSAD AS NATIONAL HERITAGE

Hi,

I wanted to tell you about this petition that I just signed:

"DECLARE SARDAR PATEL'S HOME AND SCHOOL IN KARAMSAD AS NATIONAL HERITAGE"


Palam Airport on April 28, 1950, the Hon'ble Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru stayed on at the airport to receive Mr. C. Rajagopalachari. Here the two ar seen with Miss Maniben Patel, the Hon'ble Sardar Patel , the Hon'ble Gopalaswami Ayyangar and others.

I really care about this cause, and I'd love it if you joined me in supporting it. It's free and takes just a few seconds of your time.
Thanks!

TODAY THAT DAY : 10 NOVEMBER 1950

READS REACH LHASA


Peiping Radio Report

STAFF CORRESPONDENT AND A.A.P.

London, Nov, 9 - Peiping Radio, in a broadcast in Tibetan last night, said that the "People's Army" had entered the Tibetan Capital of Lhasa.

In Lhasa itself an interim regime led by a senior monk Minister. Sawong Lama has replaced the Cabinet of the former Regent Takta Rimpoche.

Partial to the Communists, the new regime is considering Peiping proposals regarding Tibet according to reports.

The proposal provide that : -

  • China would not interfere in the internal administration of Tibet but would be responsible for its defense, external affairs, and communications.

  • China would station a token force in Lhasa and appoint military advisers to reorganise the Tibetan forces;

  • China would not interfere with the Dalai Lama and the Patchen Lama.

The interim regime has ordered the Tibetan troops to offer no resistance to the invading forces.

Meanwhile, in Kashmir and Uttar Pradesh-formerly the United Provinces-security measures have been taken along the two State's borders with Tibet.

NON-RECOGNITION

The Indian Deputy Prime Minister Mr. Sardar Patel, said in New Delhi to-day that India could not recognise the new three year-old King of Nepal.

The boy was proclaimed King on Tuesday after his grandfather, the King of Nepal, took refuge in the Indian Embassy in Katmandu capital of Nepal.

Addressing a public meeting Mr. Patel called on the Indian people to unite and strengthen themselves in the face of "new dangers or fear of dangers" arising from the trouble in Tibet and Nepal.

He said that the internal feud in Nepal had laid wide open India's frontiers in the north to outside danger.

Architect of Swaraj - 3

Architect of Swaraj


It was decided at the session to start civil disobedience movement on a mass scale and it was left to Gandhi to decide when and where the campaign should be launched. At the instance of Vallabhbhai, Gandhi selected Bardoli, for he felt that people of Bardoli were gentle and mild and would not resort to violence when provoked. He along with Vallabhbhai traveled over the entire district of Bardoli to educate them. They had to rouse the people's enthusiasm and yet keep their passions from breaking into violence. Their utterances electrified the people. The people responded enthusiastically. But only a few days after, Gandhi learnt about the outbreak of violence of Chauri Chaura. The police had opened fire on a peaceful procession without any provocation and the mob retaliated by setting fire to the police station and burning to death 21 constables and one young son of a sub-inspector of police. Learning this Gandhi immediately called off civil disobedience for he felt that the nation was not yet ready for non-violent non-cooperation. Many leaders including C.R. Das, Motilal Nehru and Lala -Lajpatrai resented the suspension of the movement when it was at its peak. They called it Gandhi's greatest blunder and protested vehemently against "the ignominious and ill-turned retreat". Patel however felt that Gandhi was right in suspending civil disobedience. He told the people not to question their leader but to follow him. To quote him, "During the struggle do what Gandhiji commands us, if he asks us to rise we shall rise, if he asks us to retreat we shall do so."

Next Borsad claimed the attention of Vallabhbhai, it was his Taluka and it appealed to him for help. This Taluka was infested with dacoits and robbers. Naturally this was going on with the connivance of the police. But the police attributed it to the indifference and cowardliness of the people who did not co-­operate with the police. To set matters right a special force was posted in the Taluka and the people were asked to pay Rs. 240,000 a year which worked out at Rs. 2 and Annas / per person above the age of 16. People resented this punitive tax.

Vallabhbhai himself went to Borsad and found that the superintendent of police was himself involved. He had issued a confidential circular to all the sub-inspectors and head constables "requiring them to turn a blind eye to dacoits and offences committed by Ali, as he had undertaken to assist in the arrest of Barber Deva." The police had even supplied weapons to Ali with which he had committed many murders and dacoities. Vallabhbhai exhorted the people not to pay this punitive tax and at the same time to remain non-violent against all provocations.

The people of Borsad stood firm. The police reacted with vengeance and attached property. This went on for five weeks when Sir Leslie Wilson was appointed Governor of Bombay. He happened to see in a newspaper a report of Vallabhbhai's speech in which he had quoted that confidential letter. He deputed the Home Member to visit the place and find out the facts. The Home Member confirmed that Vallabhbhai's allegations were correct. Thereupon the punitive tax was abolished, extra cost of extra police was to be borne by the Government. Vallabhbhai thanked the Governor of Bombay for this gesture. Gandhi complimented Vallabhbhai by conferring on him the title of "King of Borsad".

From Borsad Bardoli got the attention of Sardar Patel. In Bardoli he addressed a conference which was attended by peasants from nearly 80 villages. He told them that as to the justice of their case he had not the slightest doubt, but he was not sure of their strength. He added, "I shall stand by the side of anyone who is prepared to take risks."

On 6th February Patel addressed a letter to the Governor of Bombay requesting him to order a fresh inquiry as the increase was unjust and arbitrary, and to postpone the recovery of the revised land revenue. He received a curt reply saying that his letter had been sent to the Revenue Department for Disposal. Now the battle had begun. Vallabhbhai devoted all his time and energy to organizing, uniting and rousing the people. He went from village to village. He ate delivered numerous speeches everyday. He organized a publicity department which would issue, and distribute free, his speeches in pamphlets and also a daily news bulletin.

The Government fired their first shot on 15th February by serving notices on 50 Banias to pay the revised land revenue within 10 days. Banias were considered to be weak and mild people and the Government were hopeful that they would yield. But out of the fifty only two paid. When the people learnt of it they were annoyed with the two "black sheep" and wanted to boycott them. But Vallabhbhai told them to remain calm.

Patel moved from village to village and thousands listened to his speeches with devotion. He invited the women of Bardoli also to join the struggle, "for the burnt will have to be borne by them".

When the Government realized that the imposition of fines had no effect on the people it started confiscation of land. Here are some examples; land worth Rs. 40,000 was attached to recover a tax of Rs. 700. In another instance, 33 acres of land worth Rs. 15,000 was confiscated and sold to another buyer for Rs. 161. Again, land worth Rs. 30, 000 was sold for Rs. 115. But still the people remained unperturbed. To crush them the Government resorted to a new expedient of attaching the cattle of the peasantry.

Patel than appealed to Patels and Talatis to resign. At his call 69 out of the 90 Patels and 11 out of 35 Talatis resigned. It was at this time that Vallabhbhai came to be known as the "SARDAR" of the peasants. The appellation stuck to his name for all his life.

When the Government's repressive measures proved to be ineffective then sanity dawned on them. They were frightened that if the Bardoli Satyagraha spread to other parts of India that would be the end of British rule. So they decided to compromise. The government acceded to all the demands of Sardar Patel. The independent inquiry after a thorough investigation recommended an increase of 5.7% as against 22% originally fixed. Thus ended this glorious struggle. The Bardoli struggle was significant from many points of view. It demonstrated to all the world that truth and non-violence cannot be crushed. It compelled the mighty Government, pledged to crush, to yield within a fortnight of the pledge. It was a viceroy for both the Satyagrahis and the Government and that is why both Gandhi and Vallabhbhai congratulated the people as well as the Governor.

Secondly, the Bardoli Satyagraha was a landmark in the history of our freedom movement. It gave a new meaning and significance to the history of Satyagraha in India and paved the way for the future bigger struggle. Thirdly, it projected the personality of Sardar Patel and proved his organizing capacity and ability to lead people.

In March, 1929 Sardar was invited to preside over the fifth Kathiawad Political Conference. He did some plain-speaking by telling the people to speak less and work more.

A couple of months later he was invited to preside at the Maharashtra Political Conference.

TO BE CONTINUE…..

Courtesy : ARCHITECT OF SWARAJ
Page – 80-82

TODAY THAT DAY : 06 NOVEMBER 1947


"CORNER TURNED" IN KASHMIR


RAIDER'S MAIN STRENGTH NOW BROKEN

 

Indian Troops have fought armed raiders near Bagdom, less than ten miles south-west of Srinagar and five miles from the airfield India is using as reinforcement base in Kashmir. "Raider's infiltration tactics against that airfield are reported.

 

New Delhi, Nov 5 - According to New Delhi Radio, Indian Government forces are officially stated to have broken the main strength of the Kashmir raiders says Reuters. The Kashmir Government claimed in Press note that the corner had been turned. The raiders were being steadily pushed back and mopped up in pockets, heavy casualties being inflicted. The Indian Air Force had destroyed much of the raider's equipment. "There is definite proof that Pakistan Army officers are operating with the raiders" the report said.

 


Reliable reports from the North-West Frontier Province said that a Jehad (Moslem holy war) has been

officially declared and that more tribesmen have been seen moving towards Kashmir, "The Times" correspondent says. Raiding tribesmen shunning main roads and swarming down from the hills in thousands, last night launched attack after attack on the airport outside Srinagar, says the "Daily Express" correspondent. The hard pressed defenders held the attacks with long bursts of fire throughout the night. They knew that if the airfield fell their last hope of reinforcements from the Indian Dominion was gone.


As they fought, transport planes came in on each other's tail. Sikh troops jumped from the planes and assembled in battle formation. Thousands of refugees waited to fill their places for the return journey. The Deputy Prime Minister of India (Mr. Patel) and the Defense Minister (Sardar Baldev Singh) arrived by air and conferred on the spot with the head of the Kashmir provisional Government (Sheikh Abdullah) and then flew on to Jammu to meet the Maharajah of Kashmir (Sir Hari Singh).


An Indian Army officer who has returned to New Delhi from Kashmir told the American Associated Press correspondent that the invaders' threat to Srinagar became grave when they developed infiltration tactics against the airfield on Monday night.


Indian troops, through a victory at the village of Pattan on Sunday night, had forced the raiders to abandon their advance along the Baramula-Srinagar road. The raiders broke up and pus their way through to the village of Bagdom and would have gone straight on to Srinagar if Indian troops had not been able to bold them there for several hours.


HEAVY CASUALTIES

 


Indian troops claimed to have inflicted 50 per cent casualties when they engaged a force of 700 armed raiders near Bagdom on Monday night, less than, ten miles south west of Srinagar ad only miles from the airfield that India is using as a reinforcement base.


An Indian communique said that Indian troops were heavily out-numbered but attacked against heavy mortar and machine-gun fire and sustained comparatively light casualties. Air reconnaissance later spotted the corpses of more than 100 raiders.


An Indian Defense Ministry communique said that Indian troops on Monday afternoon, ten miles south west of Srinagar, held the raiders for several hours and inflicted heavy casualties. Parties of armed bandits, were terrorising Srinagar Valley Royal Indian Air Force planes were operatine against the raiders.



RELIEF TRAINS



Another communique said that a shuttle relief of trains during the first three days of November had carried 34,000) Hindus and Sikhs to India from Pakistan and 37,000 Moslems from India. The American Associated Press correspondent says the relief service used nine trains, each carrying between 3,000 and 7,000 refugees packed in and on every inch of space with their belongings-luggage. bedding, dogs, parrots, pigeons, fowls and mongooses.


The British Air Ministry announced today that Royal Air Force Dakotas and York aircraft, working on the relief service for the Indian and Pakistan Governments. carried more than 20,000 passengers between August 15 and October 27. Many flights involved heavily laden planes landing and taking off from abandoned airfields with a minimum of ground organisation.


The Pakistan Government in a statement issued today, accused Indian troops of having opened fire near the Sialkot border on Moslem refugees from Jammu (West Punjab). Home Guards went to the rescue of the refugees and exchanged fire with the Indians. The Pakistan Government also issued a "gazette extraordinary" ordering an non-scheduled aircraft flying over West Punjab to land at Lahore on both outward and homing flights and proceed only after clearance.



EXTERMINATION PLAN



The Prime Minister of Pakistan (Liaquat Ali Khan). in a broadcast today, said that the people of Kashmir were fighting for their freedom and very They had been caught in a widespread plan to exterminate Moslems, he said. The plan had succeeded in all States acceded to India. "Presumably after such an extermination in Kashmir, India proposed to hold a referendum," he continued. "What use is a vote when the voters have been driven from their homes or silenced in death?"


Liaquat Ali said that it was dishonest to present rebellion of enslaved peoples an invasion from outside. India was helping to wipe out the oppressed, enslaved and entrapped people of Kashmir. India had regarded the accession of Junagadh to Pakistan as a threat to India's security.


The accession of Kashmir to India was a much greater threat to the security of Pakistan "We do not recognise this accession." he said. "The choice before the people of Kashmir is freedom or death."


He charged that thousands of Sikhs, on the pretext of being refugees, entered Jammu at the end of September. but they came from East, not from West Punjab, and then "set about the formal business in Jammu and Punch of repeating the horrible drama they enacted in East Punjab."


Referring to reports that "Free Kashmir" troops were armed with modern weapons. Liaquat Ali Khan

said that many of those fighting the invading troops of India came from the 6000 former army men of Punch who were not incapable of capturing arms from their enemies.


The Governor of the North-West Frontier Province (Sir George Cunningham) has refused the request of the Jirga (tribal gathering) of Lower Mohmand tribesmen to go to Kashmir "and save their Moslem

brethren from the tyranny of the Dogra ruler." He told the Jirga to consider the whole m?n.tter without getting excited and assured them that the Pakistan Government would be able to bring about a satisfactory solution of the Kashmir problem.


A Briton, Lieut.-Col. Dykes, was killed on Monday by tribesmen who attacked the convent at Baramula, says Reuters correspondent and apparently lost his life while trying to save his wife. Mrs. Dykes's body was recovered from a well. Their three children are believed to be safe in Rawalpindi.


Khurshid Hassan. the 25-year-old private secretary to the Governor General of Pakistan (Mr. Jinnah)

who on Monday was arrested in Srinagar, was released last night. "My holiday is over, but I can not get out." he said. "I have asked for a plane from Karachi"



Courtesy : The West Australian, Thursday, November 6, 1947


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