§ 4. Captain Viscount CURZONasked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that Devadas Gandhi, who was released from gaol in the United Provinces by the Common Order on 29th January, has been busy in Calcutta since his release organising a hartal to celebrate the incarceration of his father; and whether it is proposed to take, any action to deal with this man, in view of his seditious activities since his release?
§ Earl WINTERTONI have no information as to this person's doings in Calcutta. If they are seditious, I have no doubt that the local authorities, whose duty it is, will take such action as is necessary. I would point out that there was no common general release of prisoners in the United Provinces. Certain prisoners only were released.
§ Viscount CURZONWhy was this particular man released?
§ Earl WINTERTONBecause he came within the class of persons who were released at the time.
§ 12. Colonel WEDGWOODasked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he can yet say how many political prisoners, similar in status to those recently released in the United Provinces of Agra and of Oudh, are at present in prison in each of the other eight major provinces?
§ Earl WINTERTONAs I have explained on a previous occasion to the hon. and gallant Member, I am unable to accept the term "political prisoners" as a correct one. I have no information as to the number of prisoners for offences of a political character of the status in question, but I have made inquiry by cable of the Government of India.