Embedded Files
Mr. Jinnah and others. (Cabinet Mission Plan - 1946)
Introduction
Cabinet Mission was a high-powered mission sent in 1946 to India by the Atlee Government (British Prime Minister.) The mission had three British cabinet members;
Pethick Lawrence,
Stafford Cripps,
A.V. Alexander.
Lord Wavell was not a member of the Cabinet Mission but was involved.
The Cabinet Mission aimed to discuss the transfer of power from British to Indian leadership. It was formed to resolve the constitutional deadlock between the Indian political leaders regarding the transfer of power. The mission arrived in India on March 24, 1946.
Objectives of Cabinet Mission
To obtain an agreement with the Indian leaders for the framing of a constitution for India.
To formulate a constitution-making body (the Constituent Assembly of India).
To establish an Executive Council with the support of the major Indian parties.
Representation
Meetings of the mission were held at Simla with political leaders of India.
Congress was represented by Abul Kalam Azad, Jawaharlal Nehru, Abdul Ghaffar Khan and Vallabhai Patel
Muslim League led by Jinnah, with Liaquat Ali Khan, Nawab Ismail and Abdul Rab Nishtar in their delegation.
The Proposal
Independence would be given to the Indian Dominion without any partition.
The provinces would be classified into three groups or sections:
Group A: Madras, Central Provinces, UP, Bihar, Bombay and Orissa
Group B: Punjab, Sindh, NWFP and Baluchistan
Group C: Bengal and Assam
The Centre would keep the powers over the defense, communications, foreign powers and currency. The provinces would get the remaining powers.
A constituent assembly would be set up. The new government would be formed as per this constitution. Meanwhile, an interim government would be established.
Through the scheme, the British expected to maintain Indian unity, as both they and Congress wanted, and also to provide Jinnah the substance of Pakistan.
Reactions
The proposals almost satisfied Jinnah's insistence on a large Pakistan. Therefore, Muslim League's Council accepted the mission's proposals on 6 June 1946.
Congress also accepted the proposals and understood them to be a repudiation of the demand for Pakistan. However, a point of difference concerned the Congress position was that a sovereign constituent assembly would not be bound to the plan. Jinnah insisted that it was binding once the plan was accepted
Nehru's speech on 10 July 1946 rejected the idea that the provinces would be obliged to join a group and stated that the Congress was neither bound nor committed to the plan. In effect, Nehru's speech squashed the mission's plan and the chance to keep India united. Jinnah interpreted the speech as another instance of treachery by the Congress. With Nehru's speech on groupings, the Muslim League rescinded its previous approval of the plan on 29 July.
Questions
xx
Report abuse