I AM A GREATER . . . . . . ANYBODY ELSE 245
Lucknow starts Satyagraha, 140 arrested
More than 140 members of the Lucknow branch of the All-India Scheduled Castes Federation were arrested to-day when they resorted to mass Satyagraha as a protest against the Poona Pact.
Of the 140 Federation members arrested 80 were taken under custody near the Council House, and the rest from various parts of the city.
Restrictions under Section 144 Criminal Procedure Code were strictly enforced by the police.
Scheduled Castes to launch passive resistence General Secretary’s Announcement
Members of the Scheduled Castes Federation and their followers will register their protest by launching a non-violent Satyagraha movement all over India* against what they describe as the injustice done to them in the Cabinet Mission’s proposal, which ignored the existence of the Scheduled Castes as a separate political entity.
A beginning is to be made at Poona on July 15 during the session of the Bombay Legislative Assembly by violation of the order of the District Magistrate of Poona, prohibiting meetings, demonstrations and processions, along the area of half a mile from Council Hall and the Secretariat.” [1]
General Secretary’s Explanation
Explaining this decision in the course of a statement Mr. P.N. Rajbhoj, General Secretary of the Scheduled Castes Federation says ‘the time has arrived to launch a passive resistance movement according to the resolution passed by the Working Commitee of the All India Scheduled Castes Federation on June 4, 1946 in Bombay. There is now no alternative for us but to resort to direct action. The circumstances require a struggle in order to save the scheduled castes from the impending Catastrophe.’
Mr. Rajbhoj adds that the British Government and their statement committed a breach of trust in ignoring the Scheduled Castes
- See appendix -V
1 : Jai Bheem : August 13, 1946.