Page:Speeches And Writings MKGandhi.djvu/305

 ADVOCACY OF PASSIVE RESISTANCE Merely to show how hopelessly misleading the press note is I may state that the Gujarat Sabba did nob pass a resolution advismg passive resistance, Nor that ill would have shirked it but I felt myself thab passive re- sistance should not be the subject of a resolution in a Sabha, whose constitution was governed by the rule of majority and so the Gujarat Sabha's resolution left it open to individual members to follow their own bent of mind. It is true that most of the aotive members of the Sabha are engaged in the Kaira trouble,

I must repudiate totally the insinuation that I dissuaded payment by people who wished to pay, The figures given in the press note showing the collection in the different Talukas, if they prove anything, prove that the hand of the law has hifc them hard and that the fears of the Ravanis and the Talatia have proved too strong for them. When after confiscation and sales under execution the Government show a clean bill and no arrears, will they contend that there was no case for relief or inquiry ?

I admit that the suspension is granted as a matter of grace and not as a matter of right enforceable by law, but the concession is not based on caprice, but is regulated by properly defined rules* and the Government do nob contend that if the crops had been under four annas they could have withheld suspension. The sole point through- out has been the difference as to annawari. If it is true that in granting concessions the Government take into aooounb also other circumstances, e, #., in the words of the press note, the general economic situation, suspen- sion is doubly necessary this year because of the plague and high prices, The collector bold me definitely that he could nob bake this last into account, He could gr

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