498 NON-CO-OPERATION
O'Dvyer of the Defence of India Act for purposes of stifling public movements.
The Satyagraha movement and hartal, which was designed as a precursor of it, whilst they vitalised the whole country into activity, saved it from more awful and more widespread calamities by restraining violent tendencies and passions of the people.
The Rowlatt agitation was not conceited in an anti- British spirit and the Sityagrah* movement wa? conce ived and conducted in a spirit eitirely free fro n ill-will and vio- lence. There was no conspiracy 10 overthrow the Govern- ment in the Punjab.
The arrest and internment of Mr. Gindhi aid the arrests and deportations of Kitchlew and Satyapal were un- justifiable and were the only direct cause of the hysterical popular excitement.
Mob violence, which began at Amritsar, was directly due to the firing at the Railway overbridge and the sight of dead and wounded, at a time when the excitemen t had reached white heat.
Whatever the cause of provocation, the mobe excesses are deeply to be regretted and condemned.
So far as the facts are publicly known, no reasobable cause has been shown to justify the introduction of martial law.
In each case martial law was proclaimed after order had been completely restored.
Even if it be held that the introduction of martial law was a State necessity, it was unduly prolonged.
Most of the measures taken under martial law in all the five districts were unnecessary, cruel, oppressive and in utter disregard of the feelings of the people affected by them.
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