THE first act of repression of the present Hindu Government seems to have been directed against “Dawn”. This newspaper has been asked to show cause why action should not be taken against it under the Press Emergency Power Act for publishing an item of news giving a certain League leader’s views on ‘Direct Action’. The item appeared in the issue of September 2 — Black Day, when this Government took office. Pandit Nehru and his colleagues appear to have begun official duty by trying to find an excuse to penalise “Dawn”.

[Meanwhile, it was also reported that] An official statement on the recent operations against tribesmen in Waziristan said when the facts of the bombardment came to light early this month, enquiries were made “with a view to put an end to these operations in a satisfactory way”.

“Latest reports”, said the statement, “show that there is no bombing taking place now…”. Regarding the wider question of Frontier policy, the statement explained, the Government propose to consider the whole question “in order to evolve more satisfactory methods of dealing with tribesmen. In this task it is hoped to enlist the co-operation of tribesmen themselves.”

Published in Dawn, September 15th, 2021