What was the reason for the rejection of the Cripps plan by the congre...
The Congress objected to:
-
The offer of dominion status instead of a provision for complete independence.
-
Representation of the states by nominees and not by elected representatives.
-
Right to provinces to secede as this went against the principle of national unity.
-
Absence of any plan for immediate transfer of power and absence of any real share in defence; the governor- general’s supremacy had been retained, and the demand for governor-general being only the constitutional head had not been accepted.
-
Indirectly conceded the demand for petition
-
The incapacity of Cripps to go beyond the Draft Declaration and the adoption of a rigid “take it or leave it” attitude added to the deadlock.
View all questions of this test
What was the reason for the rejection of the Cripps plan by the congre...
Understanding the Rejection of the Cripps Plan
The Cripps Mission, sent to India in March 1942, aimed to secure Indian cooperation during World War II. However, the Indian National Congress rejected the proposal for several reasons, with the most significant being related to the demand for independence.
Key Reasons for Rejection
- Indirect Concession to Demand for Petition
- The Cripps Plan proposed dominion status for India after the war, which meant that India would have significant autonomy but would still be part of the British Empire. This was seen as a diluted form of independence, not meeting the Congress's aspirations for complete self-governance.
- The Congress believed that the plan did not genuinely acknowledge the legitimacy of Indian aspirations for full independence, thus indirectly conceding to the demand for petition rather than outright independence.
- Limited Autonomy
- The proposal provided for a federal structure where provinces would have more power, but the control of the central government remained with the British.
- The Congress felt that this arrangement would not provide true freedom and would merely prolong colonial rule under a different guise.
- Exclusion of Key Demands
- The plan failed to address pressing issues such as the rights of minorities and the demand for a separate state by the Muslim League.
Conclusion
The rejection of the Cripps Plan by the Congress stemmed from its failure to offer a clear path towards complete independence. The Congress sought a definitive end to colonial rule, and the proposed dominion status was seen as inadequate, ultimately leading to the decision to reject the plan.