Why do you think the Home Department was continuously reporting on what people thought about the possibility of Mahatma Gandhi's arrest? Reread what Gandhiji said about the question of arrests in his speech on 5 April 1930 at Dandi.
The Home Department was continuously reporting on public opinion about Mahatma Gandhi's possible arrest because colonial officials were anxious and uncertain about handling the growing movement. The reports reflected the "fears and anxieties of officials who were unable to control a movement" and were worried about its spread.
The officials faced a significant dilemma—"they did not know whether to arrest Mahatma Gandhi or what an arrest would mean." As the colonial state intensified its surveillance, "the more it worried about the basis of its rule." The Home Department attempted to minimize the movement's significance, characterizing it as "a drama, an antic" while claiming people were content under British rule and unwilling to rise.
Explanation
The answer draws from the provided context which explains that the Fortnightly Reports reflected colonial anxieties. The officials were unable to control the movement and were uncertain about the consequences of arresting Gandhi. The context explicitly states they 'did not know whether to arrest Mahatma Gandhi or what an arrest would mean.' Note: The specific content of Gandhiji's speech on 5 April 1930 at Dandi is NOT included in the provided context, so that portion cannot be addressed from the given material.