The Simon Commission was formed in 1927 by the British government to investigate the working of the Montague-Chelmsford Reforms and recommend further changes, but did not include any Indians. This led to the boycott of the commission by the Congress, Muslim League, and other parties. The subsequent Nehru Report proposed a constitution with a general electorate and unitary government, reducing Muslim representation and rejecting federalism. It was rejected by Muslims as it did not accommodate their demands, leading Jinnah to propose the Fourteen Points outlining Muslim demands for safeguards and separate electorates.
The Simon Commission was formed in 1927 by the British government to investigate the working of the Montague-Chelmsford Reforms and recommend further changes, but did not include any Indians. This led to the boycott of the commission by the Congress, Muslim League, and other parties. The subsequent Nehru Report proposed a constitution with a general electorate and unitary government, reducing Muslim representation and rejecting federalism. It was rejected by Muslims as it did not accommodate their demands, leading Jinnah to propose the Fourteen Points outlining Muslim demands for safeguards and separate electorates.
The Simon Commission was formed in 1927 by the British government to investigate the working of the Montague-Chelmsford Reforms and recommend further changes, but did not include any Indians. This led to the boycott of the commission by the Congress, Muslim League, and other parties. The subsequent Nehru Report proposed a constitution with a general electorate and unitary government, reducing Muslim representation and rejecting federalism. It was rejected by Muslims as it did not accommodate their demands, leading Jinnah to propose the Fourteen Points outlining Muslim demands for safeguards and separate electorates.
Montague-Chelmsford Reforms, and to recommend further changes. Conservative govt. did not include any Indian in the Commission. Various parties decided to boycott the commission including Congress and Muslim League(Jinnah Faction).
• Muhammad Ali Johar, Khilafat Conference
and the Jami’at-i-Ulema-i-Hind also boycotted the Simon Commission Muslim League Shafi wanted to co-operate with Commission but Jinnah League decided to boycott. John Simon and his Commission was greeted everywhere with Congres-organized demonstration and black flags. • Congress challenged the Lord Birkenhead, Secretary of state of India to produce a constitution acceptable to the various elements in India.
• All Parties Conference was called on and
negotiations began on Constitutional matters The Conference appointed a committee of jurists with Moti Lal Nehru as chairman to study the problem and draft the Constitution. Sir Ali Imam and Mr.Shoaib Qureshi were taken from Muslims as members of the Committee. Committee announced its report known as “Nehru Report" in 1928.
Muslim members of the committee
boycotted the proceeding as Muslims were not accommodated in the report. The Nehru report called for a general electorate , with no separate electorates to ensure that minority groups could elect their own representatives. Representation of Muslims in the central assembly be reduced from one third to one fourth. Rejected the federal form of Government in favor of a Unitary one. Division of power between center and Provinces but the Residuary powers will be vested in Center. Nehru report was totally un-acceptable to almost every Muslim group in the Sub- Continent. Jinnah proposed amendments in the report but were rejected by the Hindus. Amendments could bridge the gulf between Hindus and Muslims but were rejected by Hindus so report was also rejected by Muslims. Report was called a document of Slavery by Muslims. An All Parties Muslim Conference was held in Delhi on 31 December, 1928 to 1st Jan.,1929 to discuss the matter. All India Muslim Conference was set up under the leadership of Agha Khan and demanded for separate electorates for Muslims. Muslim League reunited and in March 1929 it reiterated Muslim demands in Jinnah’s famous Fourteen Points, which were following:- 1. A federal, rather than a unitary form of Government. 2. Electoral safeguards for minorities in every Province. 3. Equal status for every Province. 4. Separate electorates for religious and other groups. 5. One third of the seats in the central assembly to be reserved for Muslims. 6. No bill should be passed affecting a particular religion agree to it. 7. The Muslim majorities in Punjab, Bengal and NWFP should not be negated by boundary changes. 8. Sind should be a separate Province. 9. NWFP and Baluchistan should be included in all reforms. 10. All religion should have freedom of worship,faith,Education,assembly and association. 11. There should be a proper number of Muslims in government services. 12. There should be constitutional safeguards for Muslim culture,language,religion,Education and welfare institutions. 13. At least one third of the ministers in the provinces and at the Center should be Muslims. 14. The agreement of all the federating states would be necessary for amending the Constitution.