Purposes and proposals 1946 Cabinet Mission to India

1 purposes , proposals

1.1 plan of 16 may
1.2 plan of 16 june

1.2.1 reactions

purposes , proposals

the british wanted keep india , army united keep in system of imperial defence after granting independence. preserve india s unity british formulated cabinet mission plan. cabinet mission s role hold preparatory discussions elected representatives of british india , indian states secure agreement method of framing constitution, set constitution body , set executive council support of main indian parties.

the mission held talks representatives of indian national congress , all-india muslim league, 2 largest political parties in constituent assembly of india. 2 parties planned determine power-sharing arrangement between hindus , muslims prevent communal dispute. congress, under gandhi , nehru, wanted obtain strong central government, more powers state governments. india muslim league, under jinnah, wanted keep india united political safeguards provided muslims parity in legislatures because of wide belief of muslims british raj going turned hindu raj once british departed, , since muslim league regarded sole spokesman party of indian muslims, incumbent upon take matter crown. after initial dialogue, mission proposed plan on composition of new government on 16 may 1946. in proposals, creation of separate muslim pakistan rejected.

plan of 16 may

plan of 16 june

the plan of 16 june 1946 had united india, in line congress , muslim league aspirations, consensus between 2 parties ended since congress abhorred idea of having groupings of muslim-majority provinces , of hindu-majority provinces intention of balancing 1 @ central legislature. muslim league not accept changes plan since wanted keep safeguards of british indian laws prevent absolute rule of hindus on muslims.

reaching impasse, british proposed second plan on 16 june 1946 arrange india divided hindu-majority india , muslim-majority india later renamed pakistan since congress had vehemently rejected parity @ centre. list of princely states of india, permitted accede dominion or attain independence, drawn up.

the cabinet mission arrived in india on 23 march 1946 , in delhi on 2 april 1946. announcement of plan on 16 may 1946 had been preceded simla conference in first week of may.

reactions

the approval of plans determined composition of new government. congress working committee officially did not accept either plan. resolution of committee dated 24 may 1946 concluded that

the working committee consider connected problems involved in establishment of provisional government , constituent assembly should viewed together... in absence of full picture, committee unable give final opinion @ stage.

and resolution of 25 june 1946, in response june plan concluded

in formation of provisional or other governance, congressmen can never give national character of congress, or accept artificial , unjust parity, or agree veto of communal group. committee unable accept proposals formation of interim government contained in statement of june 16. committee have, however, decided congress should join proposed constituent assembly view framing constitution of free, united , democratic india.

in provocative speech on 10 july 196 nehru quoted in press saying not bound single thing except have decided go constituent assembly . nehru torpedoed hope united india. having been duped in such way , jinnah withdrew muslim league s acceptance of cabinet mission plan on 17 july.

the viceroy began organising transfer of power congress-league coalition league president muhammad ali jinnah denounced hesitant , conditional approval of congress , rescinded league approval of both plans. congress leaders entered viceroy s executive council or interim government of india. nehru became head, vice-president in title, possessing executive authority. patel became home member, responsible internal security , government agencies. congress-led governments formed in provinces, including nwfp, in punjab (a coalition shiromani akali dal , unionist muslim league). league led governments in bengal , sind. constituent assembly instructed begin work write new constitution india.