Page:Speeches And Writings MKGandhi.djvu/309

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efleoting executions would have been saved, Wherever the assessment was unoollaotad the people lived with their lives in their hands. They have lived away from their homes to avoid attachments. They have not had even enough foDd, Tae woman have suffered what they ought not to have. At times, they have been obliged ttx put up with insults from insolent Oirole Inspectors, and to helplessly watoh thair miloh buffalloea taken away from them. Taey have paid Ohothai fines, and had they known the foregoing orders they would have been saved all the miseries. The officials koew that this relief for fche poor was the orux of the struggle. Toe Commissioner would not even look at this diffiouUy. Many letters were addressed to him but he remained unbending, He said - 11 Individual relief cannot ba granted, it is not the law." Now the Collector says : " The orders of April 25, so far as it related to putting pressure on those who were really Unable to pay on ac3ount of poverty, were merely a re- statement of what are publicly knowa to ba the standing- Orders of Government on that subject." If this is really brue the people have suffered deliberately and through sheer obstinacy ! AH the tima of going to Dalhi Mr. Gandhi wrote to the Commissioner requesting him to grant or to issue orders to the above effect so that the good news- oould be given to His Excellency the Viceroy, The Com- missioner gave no heed to the request.

OFFICIAL'S OBSTINACY

" We are moved by the sufferings of the people, we perceive our mistake and in order to placate the people we are now prepared to grant individual relief," the officials could have generously said all - this and endeared themselves to the people but they have obstinately avoided this method (of winning them over), And even now relief has been granted in a niggardly manner, involuntarily and without admission of any mistake. It is even claimed that what has now- been granted is nothing new, And hence we say that there is littlev graoe in the settlement.

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