In order to resolve the Constitutional tangle once again, a British Parliamentary Commission under the leadership of Sir John Simon came to India. Simon Commission was boycotted by both the parties i.e., the League and the Congress and other representative political parties in India on the basis that it had no Indian representation. Resolutions were passed condemning the exclusion of Indians from the Commission. The Commission’s task was to report to the British Government the desirability of establishing the principles of responsible government and extension, modification, or restriction of the degree of responsible government then existing under the Act of 1919.
The day the Commission landed in India, a country-wide strike was observed. The Commission was greeted with black flags and no one, including the Central Assembly, co-operated with the Commission. Amidst uncertain situation the commission prepared a report which was published in May 1930. The Report made the following recommendations:-
- "Dyarchy should be abolished in the provinces and provincial administration should be entrusted to minister responsible to their legislatures. Franchise should be expanded and the legislature enlarged;
- Each province should be given a Legislative Council of its own and their representations in the Central Legislature should be strengthened;
- At the centre, Legislature should be refashioned on the federal principle. The members of the Federal Assembly or the Lower House should be representatives of the provinces and elected by the Provincial Councils. The elections and nominations to the councils of State should be also on a provincial basis;
- As far as the Central Executive was concerned, no substantial change was recommended. The entire government could continue to be composed of official nominees and it was not responsible to the legislature. There was to be no diarchy at the Center".
The Report also mentioned that an All-India Federation would be set up in the distant future.
As a result of its victory in the elections the Congress assumed power in eight provinces. From July 1937 to October 1939, the Congress Ministries ruled eight of the 11 Indian Provinces. This period was extremely crucial in the history of Hindu-Muslim relations. The conclaves and correspondence the Quaid had with the Congress leaders such as Rajendra Prasad, Jawaharlal Nehru, Subhas Chandra Bose and Gandhi did not lead to any compromise. The Muslim Mass – Contact Campaign launched by the Congress failed miserably. The Congress Ministries in the Hindu-majority provinces invariably persecuted the Muslims. The complaints about ill-treatment, injustice and tyranny were so numerous and persistent that the Council of the Muslim League at its meeting of March 20, 1938 appointed a Special Committee, headed by Raja Syed Muhammad Mehdi, to make inquiries and submit a report.
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