Consider the following statements. Poona Pact led to 1. Mahatma Gandh...
- The Poona Pact refers to an agreement between Ambedkar and Gandhi on the reservation of electoral seats for the depressed classes in British India legislature.
- It was made in 1932 at Yerwada Central Jail in Poona and was signed by Madan Mohan Malviya, Ambedkar and some other leaders to end the fast that Gandhi was undertaking in jail.
- As per the pact: Seat reservation for the Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) in the provincial legislature. The STs and SCs would form an electoral college which would elect four candidates for the general electorate.
- The representation of these classes was based on the standards of joint electorates and reserved seats. About 19% of seats were to be reserved for these classes in the legislature. The election system to the panel of candidates in both, Central and Provincial Legislatures should come to an end in 10 years unless it ends on mutual terms.
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Consider the following statements. Poona Pact led to 1. Mahatma Gandh...
Poona Pact was an agreement signed between Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar in 1932. It was a significant event in the Indian freedom struggle and had implications for the political representation of the depressed classes (now known as Scheduled Castes).
Explanation:
1. Mahatma Gandhi ended his fast in the jail as a protest against separate electorates for the depressed classes:
- Mahatma Gandhi had gone on a hunger strike in September 1932 to protest against the British Government's decision to grant separate electorates to the depressed classes. This decision was made as a result of the Communal Award announced by the British Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald.
- Gandhi believed that separate electorates would further divide the Indian society along caste lines and weaken the unity of the nation. He saw it as a threat to the concept of a unified India.
- The fast was a way for Gandhi to put pressure on the British Government and to appeal to the conscience of the people. He wanted to create awareness about the issue and mobilize public opinion against separate electorates.
- After intense negotiations between Gandhi and Dr. Ambedkar, the Poona Pact was reached on September 24, 1932. As a result, Gandhi agreed to end his fast.
2. Reservation of seats for the depressed classes out of the general electorate in the provincial Legislatures:
- The Poona Pact led to the abandonment of separate electorates for the depressed classes. Instead, it provided for reserved seats for them within the general electorate in the provincial legislatures.
- The depressed classes were given a fixed number of seats in proportion to their population, which would be elected by the general electorate. This arrangement ensured their political representation and participation in the democratic process.
- This decision was significant as it recognized the importance of the depressed classes in the political sphere and aimed to uplift their social and economic conditions through political empowerment.
- The reservation of seats for the depressed classes was a major step towards social justice and equality. It aimed to address the historical discrimination and marginalization faced by these communities.
- The Poona Pact had a long-lasting impact on the political landscape of India. It paved the way for the inclusion of the depressed classes in the political decision-making process and contributed to the strengthening of the democratic fabric of the country.
Therefore, both statements 1 and 2 are correct. The Poona Pact resulted in the end of Gandhi's fast and the reservation of seats for the depressed classes within the general electorate in the provincial legislatures.
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