§ 64. Mr. LANSBURYasked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that 17 men belonging to a village near Viramgam, Gujerat, were recently arrested for trying to dissuade three Europeans from shooting birds on a lake in their village, as being contrary to the Vaishnavite religion of the villagers; and will steps be taken to ensure that in future villagers in India may with impunity try to dissuade Europeans from violating their religious scruples as to the sanctity of bird and animal life within their villages?
§ Earl WINTERTONI have seen an account in an Indian paper of the incident referred to, but have no official information. While I, obviously, can give no general undertaking in the sense asked for, since dissuasion may take unlawful forms, I can assure the hon. Member that the Government always does its best to ensure that religious susceptibilities are reasonably respected.
§ Mr. LANSBURYHas the Noble Lord realised that 17 men were arrested merely for trying to dissuade people from outraging other peoples' religious opinions?
§ Earl WINTERTONI cannot accept the hon. Member's description as accurate until I have seen the official report. I have seen the account in the Indian newspapers, on which his information is no doubt also based. The Government pays every regard to peoples' religious susceptibilities, but I cannot give the general undertaking for which the hon. Member asks.
§ Mr. LANSBURYWill the Noble Lord try to get information about this question, because it is a fact that 17 men have been arrested, and the House ought to want to know under what conditions they were arrested.
§ Earl WINTERTONI will endeavour to get the information.