§ 27. Mr. KIRKWOODasked the Secretary of State for India whether the 31 trade union leaders who have been under trial at Meerut since March, 1929, for activities in connection with the organisation of trade unions in India have yet been released?
§ Mr. BENNAs this reply is rather long, I will, if my hon. Friend will permit me, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Following is the reply:
§ It is not the case that the accused in the Meerut case were arrested for activities directed towards the organisation of trades unions. The charge against them is that of conspiring together and with other persons to bring about an armed revolution to destroy the Sovereignty of His Majesty in India, and I may add that nothing is further from the intentions of the Government 1736 of India than to place obstacles in the way of the development of trades unionism in India. The trial has been conducted strictly in accordance with the law, which requires the production of all relevant evidence both in the preliminary inquiry before a magistrate and in the Sessions trial. Owing to this requirement, and owing to the number of the accused and the volume of documentary evidence, the proceedings have been lengthy, but I am informed that they are now drawing to a conclusion. As regards the last part of the question, I am not prepared to interfere with the discretion of the courts.