asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been called to the virulence of the vernacular papers in the Punjab which has been instrumental in increasing the communal tension between Muslims and Hindus that has led to so many outbreaks and deaths of late at Delhi, Kohat, and elsewhere; and whether the Secretary of State will now consider the question of the responsibility imposed upon the Government of India by the repeal of the Press Act?

Some inter-communal animosity has been exhibited in the Press of the Punjab which is, perhaps, rather the result than the cause of the ill-feeling between Moslems and Hindus. It has not been unchecked, and within the four months ending with August there have been nine prosecutions of the persons responsible for articles in newspapers or pamphlets intended, in the words of the law, to promote feelings of enmity or hatred between different classes of His Majesty's subjects. As to the Press Act, I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the replies given to his questions on the 7th and 14th April last.

Will the Under-Secretary say whether any of these prosecutions have been withdrawn?

Can the hon. Gentleman say if any convictions have been obtained?

Yes.