Government Measures To Suppress The Swadeshi Movement (1905)

Against the fanatics, the government mounted a tremendous onslaught. Several government laws were passed between 1907 and 1911 in an effort to suppress the Swadeshi movement and restrain anti-government behavior. Among the legislation passed were the Seditious Meetings Act of 1907, the Criminal Law Amendment Act of 1908, the Indian Press Act of 1910, and the Indian Newspapers (Incitement to Offences) Act of 1908. 

 

•    The Imperial Legislative Council of the British Raj passed the Seditious Meetings Act in 1907, allowing the government to forbid political gatherings.

 

•    It was passed to improve the laws against public gatherings that can incite dissent or disturb the peace of the community.

 

•    When British Government intelligence learned that the Ghadar Movement existed and had been created with the intention of inciting political violence in India, this legislation was passed. 

 

•    This law was passed to speed up the legal process for some crimes and outlaw organizations that endanger public safety.

 

•    "Unlawful association" in this context refers to a group that: encourages or assists individuals in committing acts of violence or intimidation or whose members frequently engage in such behavior or that the State Government has deemed to be unlawful.

 

•    If someone joins an illegal association, participates in its meetings, or gives, receives, or solicits money for the benefit of any such association, the state has the right to arrest, imprison, and/or fine that person.

 

•    The Indian Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1908, may be used to refer to this law.

 

•    Extremist nationalist activity during and after the Swadeshi movement of 1906 served as the catalyst for this action.

 

•    The Act, which gave the magistrates the authority to seize the press for printing materials that encouraged violence, was passed in 1908.

 

•    Any declaration made by the printer and publisher of the newspaper that had been found in violation of the Press and Registration of Books Act, 1867, could be revoked by the local government.

 

•    Within 15 days, newspapers were permitted to relocate to the High Courts.

 

•    Under Minto of Earl's governorship, the Explosives Substances Act was passed in 1908.

 

•    After the Swadeshi Movement, the government feared upcoming violent uprisings. The act made it illegal for Indians to possess explosives.

 

•    The term "explosive substance" in this Act shall be deemed to include any ingredients used to make explosive substances, as well as any tool, material, or device used, intended to be used, or specially designed to cause, or assist in causing, an explosion in or involving explosive substances, as well as any component of such a tool, machine, or device. 

 

•    It was a measure to better the press's ability to be controlled. The worst elements of the Vernacular Press measure (VPA) were revived by this measure.

 

•    Over time, the British government's perspective on the Indian press evolved.

 

•    Many press laws were passed between 1908 and 1935 in an effort to rein in the anti-British tenor of the Indian press.

 

•    The British were compelled to adopt a harsh stance against Indian nationalists due to the rise of political terrorism.

 

•    The Home Member Lord Ridley proposed a Bill to ban the dissemination of anti-government material on February 4.

 

•    The Indian Press Act of 1910 was passed by Viceroy of India Lord Minto II on February 9.

 

•    British India passed the Indian Press Act in 1910, which severely restricted all forms of publication.

 

•    The Press Act's primary means of control were financial assets that could be seized if any of the legislation's incredibly wide sections were broken.

 

The extremists were repressed as a result of these actions. At that time, they were unable to put together a powerful political party. While many of the nationalist leaders were in prison, many of them took a break from their activism. However, the movement succeeded in making nationalism popular and awoken the average person to issues of liberty. For the first time, professionals and students joined the national movement as active participants.