Colonel PHILIPPSasked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he will consider the desirability of extending the period for which the India medal was granted for the operations in 1901 and 1902 so as to include the period from 1st December, 1900, to 23rd November, 1901, during which time a number of Indian regiments which were employed in blockading the passes into the Mahsud Waziri country underwent all the hardships of active service?
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§ Mr. HOBHOUSEIn recommending the grant of a medal for the active operations which began on 23rd November, 1901, the Government of India stated that the operations of the passive blockade which preceded were not in their opinion of such a nature as to justify their inclusion. The Secretary of State is not prepared to propose the revision of the decision arrived at by His Majesty's Government in 1902, which was in accordance with the recommendation of the Government of India.