द इण्डियन स्ट्रगल / भारतीय स्वाधीनता संग्राम (नेताजी सुभाष चन्द्र बोस - ऐतिहासिक विश्लेषण)

THE SLUMP 145
could he do? He was not in a position to start a campaign
of civil disobedience in the country. Therefore he decided
to withdraw from the Assembly as a protest against the attitude
of the Government. Much adverse criticism was made of this
decision at the time—nevertheless, there is hardly any doubt
that there was no alternative to this step except one of abject
acquiescence in the policy of the Government. In March
1926, after a speech exceedingly dignified but somewhat
defeatist in its tone, Pandit Motilal Nehru walked out of the
Assembly followed by all the Swarajist members. Following
this move in the Assembly, the Swaraj Party also withdrew
from the Provincial Legislatures.
But the dark clouds of 1926 had a silver lining. In spite of
inter-communal dissensions and disturbances, the production
of Khadi was going up by leaps and bounds. Freed from
other distractions, the Mahatma was able to concentrate on
this work. Under his leadership the All-India Spinners'
Association was extending its branches all over the country.
Through this organisation, the Mahatma was once again
building up his own party which was to be of invaluable
service to him when he desired to recapture the Congress
machinery once again. To make up partly for the many
defections in the Congress Party, Mr. Srinivasa Iyengar
joined the party wholeheartedly about this time. He had
great reputation and prestige in the Madras Presidency and
this he placed at the disposal of the Congress. Through his
help the movement in the Madras Presidency was greatly
strengthened and a strong Congress Party was set up in the
Madras Legislative Council. In the Assembly he performed
with great ability the duties of the Deputy-Leader of the
Congress Party. After presiding over the Gauhati Congress
in December 1926, he spent a very busy time in going round
the country for restoring inter-communal unity. In this
task he was assisted by the Ali brothers who were actively
associated with the Congress till 1928, though their estrange-
ment with the Mahatma began in 1926.¹
¹ It is generally believed that the estrangement between the Ali brothers
and the Mahatma took place over the Hindu-Moslem riots at Kohat in
Beluchistan. In this dispute the Ali brothers took the side of the Moslems
and complained that the Mahatma had taken the side of the Hindus.
K