Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-31
GANDHI TO DEMAND
SWEEPING REFORM
Commercial and Social Equal
lily and Army Control Part
of Program.
b the Associated Press.


Working Committee, or cabinet, OF the
All-India National Congress today drew
up resolutions indicating the sweeping
scope Of demands for Indian independ.
ence which Mahatma oandhi viii make
at the second round table conference to
be held soon In London.
The resolutions must be passed by the
congress itself, in annual session here.
but since Gandhi' address last night
on the truce with Viceroy Lord Irwin
at New Delhi ending the civil disobe-
dience campaign, and the approval Of
the truce by the congress there Is no
doubt Of this issue
The program outlined by the resolu-
tons today enjoins the delegation which
Is to be headed by Gandhi TO demand
not only indian independence, with In
dian control of army, finances and for
eign affairs. but complete Indian COM
nlsrcial and social equality with Brit
tsherS.
Prepared for Rejection.
Gandhi, in introducing the resolu-
tons, said he was aware that the de-
mands embodied In them were revolli-
tionary in character and might be re-
Jected outright by the round table con.
ference but that he was prepared to
face this danger. Some members Of
the cabinet believed that they should
not be presented until after the second
round table conference but Gandhi, tax
ing vote, obtained majority In their
favor.
'"s This Congress declares that
any constitution that may be agreed
upon on its behalf should include the
following items" the resolution saws
''or should give ability to q Swaraj
them:
Fundamental rights for the peoples"
such as,
81. Freedom of association and
combination.
20 Freedom of speech and press.
80 Freedom Of conscience and free
possession and practice of religion, sub
ject to public order and morality.
"a No disability to attach to any
person by reason Of religion, caste or
creed regarding public employment in
ONCE or power or honor and exercise
at the time Of any trade or calling.
Demand Equal Rights.
go Equal rights and obligations OF
all citizens; with no civic bar on ac-
count Of sex.
(6) Equal rights Of all citizens Of
access to and use of public roads. pub
lie wells and all other places Of pub
lie resort.
CD Right to keep and bear arms
IN accordance With regulations made in
that behalf with such reservations as
may be required for public safety.
The resolutions continue: we also
demand:
% Religious neutrality on the part
Of the State.
(2) A living wage for industrial work.
ers, limited hours Of labor, healthy con-
ditions for work, protection against eco
nomic consequences Of old age, sickness
cd Labor to be freed from conditions
of serfdom.
90 Protection Of women workers
with adequate provisions for leave dur
ing maternity period -
(5) Prchibitfon against employment
Of children Of scholastic age IN fac
(6) Right Of. labor to form unions to
protect their interests.
CD Substantial reduction, CT land
revenue and rents.
Eight and nine refer to taxes.
Want Total Prohibition.
(l0) Adult suffrage.
cid Free primary education.
(l2) Military expenditures cut In
(I3) Civil department expenditures
and salaries largely reduced with no
State servant to be paid over the Indian
equivalent Of 5000 monthly.
n4) Protection of native cloth by
exclusion OF foreign cloth and foreign
yarn.
e15) Total prohibition of Intoxicating
drinks and drugs
06) No duty on salt
CID Regulation Of the exchange ratio
so as TO help indian industries.
(i8l Control by the state of key In
dustries and mineral resources.
19) Control Of usury, direct or in
direct.
It was said that Gandhi introduced
many Of these demands, which generally
were regarded as radical In order to
placate Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, ex-
tremiSt member Of the Nationalist cabi-
net, who has decided eommunistic
leanings. Nehru spent some time in
Soviet Russia, and since has advanced
some Of the ideas gained there in India.
Against Forward Policy.
The Congress also passed resolution
which declared:
This Congress declares that the peo-
pie of India have no quarrel with
countries and people bordering on
India, and desires to maintain friendly
relations with them. The Congress dis
approves the so-called forward policy
Of the British government in India In
the northwest frontier and all imperial
lst attempts to destroy the freedom of
the people Of the frontier.
THE Congress is strongly Of the
opinion that the military and financial
resources of India should not be en-
ployed in furtherance of this policy, and
that military occupation of the tribes
mems territory should be terminated