Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1948-02-02
Nehru Pledges
He Will Restore
Peace in India
Gang Hunted in Plot
Against Lives of
; High Officials

NEW DELHI, Feb. 2.-Prime
Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Neh-
ru told the Indian Constituent
Assembly today that he accepted
the restoration of peace in this
troubled land as an issue on
which his government would
stand or fall.
IF we don't do that, we are not
worth being in this government;
certainly not of being his (Mohan-
das K. Gandhi's) followers or even
saying words of praise for this great
SOUL" Mr.. Nehru said.
II have a sense of utter shame
as an individual and as the head
of the government that we should
have failed to protect the greatest
treasure we possess"
In swift implementation of Mr.
Nehru's stand for peace, the Home
Ministry issued a communique abol-
ishing private armies and ANY or
ganization preaching violence or
communal heatred.'
Meanwhile, on the banks of the
Jumna, the ashes of the assassi-
mated Gandhi were reverently COL
lected and prepared for scattering
on waters sacred to orthodox Hin
duism. A crowd of 5000 quietly
watched the sitting of the ashes.
Gang of Plotters Hunted.
officials of the Indian Union
hunted for gang accused of plot
ting to send three high officials of
the dominion to their deaths with
Gandhi.
Mr.. Nehru, who had just returned
from the services beside the Jumna,
had to pause at times as he spoke
to the assembly at memorial serv-
ice for Gandhi. He was barely able
to control his tears and sobbing.
"Gandhiji's assassination is not
the isolated act of a mailman" he
told the hushed assembly, which is
jointly the constitutions writing and
legislative branch of the new In
dian government. Gandhiji Is the
affectionate, diminutive form of the
name.
"It is the result of certain at
rnosphere of violence and hatred
that has prevailed in the country for
many months and years, especially
the past few months.
Must Halt Violence.
IF we are~to serve the cause that
Gandhiji put before us we have to
face this atmosphere, combat 1t,
struggle against it and root out this
evil of hatred and violence from the
country and from our individual
selves.
Il assure you on behalf of the
government of India that we will
spare no means, no effort to do
that. If we don't do that we are
not worth being in the govern
ment ="
Hindu was set against Hindu by
Gandhi's assassination and by word
of the conspiracy, both laid to those
of his own faith. Unofficial esti-
mates were that at least so had
been slain in rioting since the pistol
killing of the 78-year-old patriot
Friday night.
Home Minister Sardar Vallabhai
Patel told correspondents last night
that he, Prime Minister Nehru and
Education Minister Maulana Abul
Kalam Azad had been marked for
murder by group decrying leniency
toward Moslems.
Mobs formed in this city today
when reports of the assassination
plot spread. Rife fire was heard.
Trouble was reported over the
week end from Bombay and Mad
ras Provinces far to the south. Mobs
attacked members of the militant
Hindu Mahasabha great Hindu or
ganization). Gandhi'S accused as
sassin was reported by police to be-
long to the party. In Bombay Prov
ince, some so were estimated un-
officially to have been killed and
200 wounded.
Arrests Being Made.
Mr.. Patel, India's chief law en-
forcement officer and so-called
iron man" of Mr.. Nehrus Congress
Party, told correspondents the con-
(See INDIA. Page A-3)