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Difficulty: HardGandhian Era and Major Mass Movements

Consider the following statements regarding the provisions and terms of the Gandhi-Irwin Pact (Delhi Pact) signed in March 1931:

1. The colonial administration agreed to release all political prisoners except those convicted of violent offences.
2. The British government explicitly conceded Mahatma Gandhi's demand for a public judicial inquiry into police atrocities committed during the Salt Satyagraha.
3. The right to peaceful and non-violent picketing of foreign cloth and liquor shops was accepted.
4. The government permitted coastal residents to manufacture salt for their own domestic consumption without paying tax.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

  1. 1, 3 and 4 onlyAnswer
  2. B
    1, 2 and 3 only
  3. C
    2 and 4 only
  4. D
    1, 2, 3 and 4

Answer

The correct option is the one stating that statements 1, 3, and 4 only are correct.
Under the Gandhi-Irwin Pact signed on March 5, 1931, the government agreed to: (1) release all political prisoners not convicted of violence, (2) return confiscated lands not yet sold to third parties, (3) permit peaceful picketing of liquor and foreign cloth shops, and (4) allow people living near coasts to produce salt for personal consumption without tax. However, Viceroy Lord Irwin explicitly rejected two key demands: a public judicial inquiry into police excesses during the Salt Satyagraha and the commutation of the death sentences of Bhagat Singh and his comrades.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze Statement 1
Statement 1 is correct. The British government agreed to release political prisoners who had not been charged with violent crimes.
This was a major point of discussion, which led to controversy regarding prisoners convicted of violent acts such as Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, and Sukhdev.
2
Analyze Statement 2
Statement 2 is incorrect. Viceroy Irwin rejected the demand for an inquiry into police excesses.
Gandhi raised two main demands that were denied: an inquiry into police atrocities and the commutation of death sentences.
3
Analyze Statements 3 and 4
Statements 3 and 4 are correct. The government permitted peaceful picketing of liquor/cloth shops and allowed coastal villagers to make salt for home consumption.
These concessions formed part of the official pact signed on March 5, 1931, in Delhi.

Key Concept

Terms and Concessions of the Gandhi-Irwin Pact (1931)
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Topics

Gandhian Era and Major Mass Movements

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