The Indian States’ Conference
AMONG the conferences held at Belgaum during the ‘National Week’, not the least important was that of the Indian princely states’ subjects. Since the Reform Scheme was adopted in British India, the people of Indian states, who form one-sixth of the population of the country, have been feeling the invidiousness of their position in the matter of political development. It is to give expression to this feeling and take steps to improve their position that they have inaugurated the Conference of Indian States’ Subjects, several sessions of which have already been held in various centres. The Belgaum session of the conference was presided over by NC Kelkar, MLA, who delivered a thoughtful address dealing with important problems affecting the states. Kelkar called attention to the fact that the condition of the states’ people was at present neglected not only by the British Government, the local people themselves and their rulers, but also by the Indian National Congress. The British authorities profess to be unconcerned in the advancement of the states’ subjects on the ground that the treaty rights of various rulers prevent internal interference. This plea of non-interference is unreal, because where British interests are involved, the Foreign Office has on many occasions and in respect of many states, not only interfered with the internal affairs of the states but actually enforced its decrees against the wishes of the local authorities. Kelkar, while exposing this inconsistency, deplored that even through the newly formed Narendra Mandal or Princes’ Chamber, the British Government had so far made no attempt to induce various princes to make a beginning in the matter of granting self-governing powers to their subjects.
