Page 54 - Gujar Mal Modi

CHAPTER FURTHER TRAILS AND

SEVEN ACHIEVEMENTS

In 1946, Mr. Gujarmal Modi decided to set up a textile mill at an estimated cost
of Rs. 10 million. A big plot oflandadjoining the existing factory in village Sikri

was selected for the purpose and after preliminary negotiations with the parties
concerned, the Government was approached for permission to acquire the land

from the Gujar land-owners. The Government granted the necessary permission
and Mr. Modi took possession of the land on 6th June 1946 when there was an

unexpected development. The Gujars of the area were dissatisfied over the Gov-
ernment decision to permit acquisition of the land. At that time a large number

of communist leaders and workers had gathered at Delhi to take part in the im-
pending strike by railwaymen. The strike, however, fizzled out and therefore the

communist workers had to retreat. On their way back, some of them stopped at
Modinagar and demanded a sum of Rs. 5000/-from Mr. Modi but he refused. The

communist leaders decided to incite the mill workers against Mr. Modi. Loud
speakers were installed in front of the factory gates and a venomous propagan-

da tirade was let loose against Mr. Modi.

A complaint about a threat to peace in the mill area was lodged with District

Magistrate at Meerut who forwarded it to the new Government at Lucknow.
The Parliamentary Secretary attached to the Ministry of Home Affairs in the new

Government reportedly told the District Magistrate that the new popular Minis-
try was not bound to follow the old British practice of patronising and protecting

capitalist interests. ln view of this advice, the District Magistrate decided to keep
quiet and took no action in the matter. When Mr. Modi was apprised of this new

policy of the popular ministry, he, too, decided to watch the situation quietly.

Meanwhile, the communists and others started spreading all sorts of rumours
in the surrounding villages. One such rumour was that the new Government

had issued orders that every farmer who had supplied sugarcane to the sugar

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