§ 84. Mr. T. WILLIAMSasked the Secretary of State for India how many persons have been injured by beating, lathi charges, or the use of other weapons because they had been peacfully picketing in India?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for INDIA (Sir Samuel Hoare)The police have no authority to use force unnecessarily, and I am not prepared to accept the assumption in the question that they are abusing their powers.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSDoes the right hon. Gentleman still regard it as a crime for Indians to ask Indian people to buy Indian goods?
§ Mr. SPEAKERMr. Thomas Williams.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSMay I have a reply to my supplementary question?
§ Mr. SPEAKERObviously that supplementary question does not arise out of the question on the Paper.
§ 85. Mr. WILLIAMSasked the Secretary of State for India if he will state what is the total number of persons who have been convicted in India during recent weeks for picketing; under what law or ordinance they were convicted; and will he state what form of picketing is still permitted in India?
§ Sir S. HOAREAs regards the first part of the question the information is not at present available but I am arranging for figures to be published periodically. As regards the last parts I would refer the hon. Member to the Prevention of Molestation and Boycotting Ordinance, the text of which will be included in the White Paper.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSMay I ask on this question whether Indians picketing and inviting Indians to buy Indian goods are committing an offence?
§ Sir S. HOARECertainly, they would he engaged in civil disobedience.