§ 5. Mr. PETHICK-LAWRENCEasked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he can now state whether there 1984 has recently been an increase of 25 per cent. in the land tax levied on the peasants in the sub-State of Sikar; whether a number of them on protesting were arrested and punished, and what was the nature of the punishment inflicted on them; whether 18 peasants who had assembled on 5th March for the purposes of laying their grievances before the authorities were arrested without warrant; whether any charge has been preferred against them in a court of law; whether two of their leaders have been flogged; and whether he has any statement to make in the matter?
§ Earl WINTERTONI have not yet received any official information on this subject. A reference has been made to the Government of India.