APPENDIX—V
POONA SATYAGRAHA
SATYAGRAHIS ARRESTED
Followers of the Scheduled Castes Federation in the Bombay Province launched their “non-violent Satyagraha ” to-day in Poona to protest against the “injustice done to them by the British Cabinet proposal’s which is the result of Congress machinations.”
The first batch of six “ Satyagrahis ”— four women and two men — were arrested this morning opposite the Council hall for violating the Poona District Magistrate’s order and staging a demonstration in front of the Council Hall. The arrested persons include Mrs. Shantabai Dani, a member of the Working Committee of the Scheduled Castes’ Federation from Nasik, and Mrs. Gitabai Gaikwad, wife of Mr. B. K. Gaikwad, President of the Bombay Branch of the Federation.
Just before the Assembly session began these six Satyagrahis entered the Council Hall compound, evading the police who were guarding the entrances in the compound and immediately on entering took out black flags from their pockets and shouted slogans of “Down with British Imperialism.” “Down with Congress” and “Scrap the Poona pact.”
Two further batches of eight ladies and six men were later arrested at about 1 p. m. at the entrance of the compound wall.
Almost at the same time as the first batch of “ Satyagrahis ” were staging their demonstration, a big procession of Scheduled Castes, which stated with the intention of going to the Council Hall and breaking the District Magistrate’s order, was being stopped near the War Memorial, on the Station Road at a chalk line marked to indicate the half mile distance from the Council Hall. According to the District Magistrate’s order no procession is allowed in the area half a mile from the Council Hall.
The procession started at about 10 a. m. from the “ Satyagraha ” camp at Baba Jan Chowk and marched in files of four and five. It was headed by Mr. B. K. Gaikwad, President of the Bombay