Provincial fortnightly report (Bombay) — Criminal Law Amendment Act action, market conditions and Communist activities

Provincial report

Date: n.d. [c. mid-November 1942 — reports National Unity Week from 1 November 1942 and the post-Diwali cotton market]
From: [Government of Bombay]
To: [Government of India, Home Department]
Classification: [not shown on this page]
Page: p. 5 (section numbered "4." at foot; manuscript "18" below)
Document type: Fortnightly report extract (Provincial Government to Government of India)

Signatories

None — this sheet bears no signature.

Marginalia & annotations

Heavy ink stroke in the left margin beside the first paragraph. Manuscript "18" at foot. Red archival "13".

Transcript verbatim

                                - 5 -

        Dr.Ambedkar's recent press interview in which he suggested that
there are advantages in postponing controversy on constitutional
matters till after the war has attracted a good deal of attention
because of the moderation and restraint with which he expressed his
views. This suggests - what is doubtless well known to the Govern-
ment of India - that no statement is likely to have effect which
is merely denunciatory of the Congress. If a balanced case is
presented without abuse of Congress or its leaders, it is likely,
even in the present mood of the country, to attract the attention
of considerable sections of the intelligentsia.

        Action under the Criminal Law Amendment Act.- Government has
notified the Bardoli Swaraj Ashram and the Vedchhai Ashram, both
in the Surat District, as unlawful associations within the meaning
of section 15 of the Criminal Law Amendment Act.

        Government has also confiscated under section 17E(1) of the
same Act funds belonging to the All India Congress Committee
amounting to Rs.1,984 and to the Bombay Provincial Congress Commit-
tee amounting to Rs.2,954 which were in the custody of certain banks
and the firm of Bachraj Company Limited.

        Conditions of markets.- The expectation that the cotton
market would resume trading after the Diwali has not so far been
fulfilled.

        Communist Activities.- The Communists organised "National
Unity Week" from 1st November 1942 and held several meetings. The
Bombay Girni Kamgar Union (Red Flag) also held about half a dozen
meetings at which the workers were advised to agitate for a
25 per cent. increase in the basic pay, Rs.30/- as dearness allow-
ance and recognition of the Union. All these meetings, however,
drew poor audiences. The Friends of the Soviet Union joined
forces with the Communists and organised an exhibition of Russian
posters during the National Unity Week.

                                                        4.