HC Deb 21 July 1924 vol 176 cc846-7
9. Mr. CLARKE

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India if he is aware that Sardar Mohindrasingh, a member of the Punjab Legislative Council, has been sentenced to two and a half years' rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs.1,500, on a charge of entertaining a Shahidi Akali Jatha; and if he will inquire into the circumstances of the case and the reason for the severity of the sentence?

Mr. RICHARDS

I have seen a Press message to this effect in a newspaper recently received from India, but have no official information on the subject. Without further details it is not proposed to make inquiry into the case.

Major BARNETT

Will the hon. Gentleman have the goodness to tell the House what is a Shahidi Akali Jatha, as without that information it is impossible to form a judgment on the gravity of this case?

Mr. RICHARDS

I have already said that I have no information beyond what I have seen in the newspapers.