Moderate Fiji-lndians Criticise

Independence Day Extravagances

From Our Own Correspondent

SUVA, August 28.

A CURIOUS sequel to the carefully organised Indian political demon strations throughout Fiji on August 15 (Indian Independence Day) has been an outburst by moderate Indians in the correspondence columns of the English language press in Fiji. Some of the Indian writers condemn the aggressive waving of Indian national flags in the Colony.

The Indian Government Commissioner in Fiji has been criticised for allegedly permitting prominence to be given to one Hindu sect at a ceremony at his house on August 15 (incidentally, the Commis sioner, Mr. S. A. Waiz, is a Christian) and correspondents have suggested that In dian political disunity has increased in the last year.

A Fiji-born Indian, for the first time in the English press, openly ridiculed the repeated expressions of “grateful appre ciation for the kindly interest now being taken by Free India in the welfare of the Indians in Fiji.”

He quoted the case of two Indians who went to India from Fiji, secured jobs and then were officially told to get out of India, which did not want them. He added that it would be better for Indians in the Colony if they paid less attention to the “agitators who only seem to get the Indian people into trouble.”

Yet another, who signed his letter with his own name, briskly “demanded an ex planation” from whoever was responsible

for a hurricane of Indian flag-waving at a country centre and the total elimination of the Union Jack.

“As British subjects, it is our duty to be loyal and the Union Jack should have had the place of honour with the Indian flag,” he wrote, and added that as the Pakistan flag was displayed, this possibly was due to the fact that the organisers were apprehensive at the number of “Pakistanis” present.

Somewhat belatedly, Indian concern for the Union Jack appears to be growing, particularly in the country districts. The trend is much less marked in Suva, al though a published letter by a young Indian recently expressed grave disap proval of the absence of the National Anthem at boxing programmes.