The people of India agitated against the arrival of Simon Commission because

Question

Question

This question was previously asked in

UPSC Civil Services (Prelims) Official Paper 2013

Indians never wanted the review of the working of the Act of 1919
Simon Commission recommended the abolition of Dyarchy (Diarchy) in the Provinces
there were no Indian member in the Simon Commission
the Simon Commission suggested the partition of the country

Answer 1

The correct answer is there were no Indian member in the Simon Commission.

Key Points

The Simon Commission was a group of seven British Members of Parliament of the United Kingdom that came to India in 1928 to study constitutional reform.
- The people of India were outraged, as the Simon Commission, which was to determine the future of India, did not include a single Indian member in it.
- The people of India agitated against the arrival of the Simon Commission because there was no Indian member in the Simon Commission.
Hence option 3 is correct.

Additional Information

The Government of India Act 1919 made a provision for a review committee on its work after 10 years.
- However, the conservative government was staring at defeat and it felt that this constitutional question couldn’t be left in the hands of an inexperienced labour party.
- Thus the Indian statutory commission popularly known as the Simon Commission was appointed in 1927.
- However, as no Indian was on the committee it was met with boycott unanimously throughout India by all parties. The Muslim league was split on this but Jinnah carried the majority with him in favour of the boycott.
Recommendations of the Simon Commission
- Simon Commission [1927]: The recommendations were a continuation of communal representation, the abolition of diarchy, an extension of responsible government in provinces, creation of the Indian Federation of British India and princely states.
- The new government of the labour party was in power and the PM Ramsey McDonald declared that once the Simon committee submits its report a round table would be convened to discuss dominion status to India.
  - Following this declaration a conference of all major leaders met and issued the Delhi manifesto, it made clear that the purpose of the round table wouldn’t be too discuss when dominion status would be given but to make an implementation plan.
  - Viceroy Irwin told Gandhiji that such a promise can’t be made. Hence the confrontation was necessary.