The Nehru Report, Delhi Proposal and Jinnah’s Fourteen Demands | History Optional for UPSC (Notes) PDF Download

Introduction

The Nehru Report of August 1928 proposed a new dominion status constitution for India. It was a response to the rejection of the all-white Simon Commission by Indian leaders and aimed to establish a constitutional framework for the country.

Background

• Simon Commission worked without Indian public input.
• Indian political parties sought to create a unified political agenda.
• The Nehru Report emerged as a response to Lord Birkenhead's challenge.
• In February 1928, an All Parties Conference was led by Dr. M.A. Ansari.
• A subcommittee under Motilal Nehru was formed to draft the Constitution.
• Jawaharlal Nehru served as the secretary of the subcommittee.
• Despite initial disagreements, the final report was signed by eight members.
• Shuaib Qureshi dissented on certain recommendations.
• This marked the first significant effort by Indians to create a constitutional framework.
• The Nehru Committee's recommendations were largely unanimous.
• A majority favored "dominion status" as the Constitution's foundation.
• A minority advocated for "complete independence".

Main Recommendations:

• The Nehru Report focused on British India while proposing a future federal link with the princely states.
• It recommended Dominion status similar to self-governing dominions, which disappointed some, including Jawaharlal Nehru.
• The report rejected separate electorates and advocated for joint electorates with reserved seats for Muslims based on population proportions.
• A federal government structure was proposed, with residuary powers centralized.
• It outlined the machinery of government, including a Supreme Court and linguistically determined provinces.
• Included nineteen fundamental rights, such as equal rights for women, the right to form unions, universal adult suffrage.
• Called for responsible government at both central and provincial levels.
• Emphasized protection of cultural and religious interests of Muslims and the creation of new provinces based on linguistic majorities.
• Advocated for the dissociation of state from religion.
• Proposed that the language of the Commonwealth could be Indian languages or Urdu, with English permitted.
• Suggested a parliamentary structure with a Senate and a House of Representatives, elected through adult franchise.
• The Governor-General was to act on the advice of the Executive Council, responsible to Parliament.
• The Nehru Report and the Simon Commission report influenced the Indian Round Table Conferences and the Government of India Act 1935.

The Muslim and Hindu Communal Responses

• The initial drafting of the constitutional framework was marked by enthusiasm and unity among political leaders.
• However, communal differences soon emerged, leading to controversies surrounding the Nehru Report, particularly regarding communal representation.
• In December 1927, a significant gathering of Muslim leaders in Delhi during the Muslim League session resulted in four key proposals aimed at securing Muslim interests in the forthcoming draft constitution.
• These proposals, known as the ‘Delhi Proposals’, were endorsed by the Congress during its Madras session in December 1927.
• The proposals included:
  • Replacing separate electorates with joint electorates while reserving seats for Muslims.
  • Allocating one-third of the seats in the Central Legislative Assembly to Muslims.
  • Ensuring Muslim representation in Punjab and Bengal in proportion to their population.
  • Establishing three new Muslim-majority provinces: Sindh, Baluchistan, North-West Frontier Province.
• The Hindu Mahasabha strongly opposed the creation of new Muslim-majority provinces and the reservation of seats for Muslims in Punjab and Bengal, which would grant substantial legislative control to Muslims.
• The Mahasabha also advocated for a strictly unitary political structure.
• The Hindu Mahasabha’s resistance complicated the situation.
• During the All Parties Conference, the Muslim League distanced itself from the discussions and reaffirmed its demand for seat reservations for Muslims, particularly in the Central Legislature and in Muslim-majority provinces.
• Motilal Nehru and other leaders involved in drafting the Nehru Report faced a challenging situation.
• They had to balance the demands of Muslim communal interests with those of Hindu communalists.
• Accepting Muslim demands risked alienating Hindu support, while catering to Hindu communalists could drive Muslim leaders away.
• The Nehru Report made several concessionsto Hindu communalists, including:
  • Proposing joint electorates universally but reserving seats for Muslims only in minority situations.
  • Recommending the detachment of Sindh from Bombay only after the grant of dominion status and ensuring weightage for the Hindu minority in Sindh.
  • Proposing a broadly unitary political structure with residual powers resting with the central government.

Amendments Proposed by Jinnah

At the All Parties Conference in Calcutta (December 1928):

• Jinnah, representing the Muslim League, proposed amendments to the Nehru Report.
• The following demands were rejected:
  • One-third representation for Muslims in the Central Legislature.
  • Reservation for Muslims in Bengal and Punjab legislatures proportionate to their population until adult suffrage was established.
  • Residual powers to provinces.
• Accepted Demand: Jinnah's proposal that constitutional amendments should require a four-fifths majority in both Houses of Parliament and unanimous approval in a joint session was accepted.
• Due to the rejection of his demands, Jinnah returned to the Shafi faction of the Muslim League and, in March 1929, introduced the Fourteen Points, which became the foundation for the Muslim League's future propaganda.

Jinnah’s Fourteen Demands (1929):

• Introduction of a federal constitution with residual powers granted to the provinces.
• Granting of provincial autonomy.
• Prohibition of constitutional amendments by the center without the agreement of the states in the Indian federation.
• Ensuring adequate representation of Muslims in all legislatures and elected bodies in each province, without diminishing a Muslim majority to a minority or equality.
• Providing adequate representation to Muslims in public services and self-governing bodies.
• Allocating one-third Muslim representation in the Central Legislature.
• Ensuring that one-third of any cabinet at the center or in the provinces is composed of Muslims.
• Maintaining separate electorates.
• Preventing the passage of any bill or resolution in a legislature if three-fourths of a minority community believes it is against their interests.
• Ensuring that any territorial redistribution does not affect the Muslim majority in Punjab, Bengal, the Northwest Frontier Province (NWFP).
• Advocating for the separation of Sindh from Bombay.
• Calling for constitutional reforms in the NWFP and Baluchistan.
• Guaranteeing full religious freedom to all communities.
• Protecting Muslim rights in religion, culture, education, language.

Response of Congress and Muslim League:

• On December 31, 1928, the Congress welcomed the All Parties Conference Report at its annual session.
• The Congress stated it would accept the constitution if approved by the British Parliament within a year (by December 31, 1929).
• If rejected, the Congress would organize a campaign of non-violent non-cooperation and non-payment of taxes.
• Three months later, the Muslim League's Subjects Committee approved the Nehru Report with safeguards proposed by Jinnah.
• However, on March 31, 1929, the Muslim League rejected the Nehru Report and upheld Jinnah's "fourteen points" as the minimum conditions for Muslims.

Response of the Younger Section of the Congress:

• The younger section of the Congress, led by Jawaharlal Nehru and Subhash Bose, was also dissatisfied with the Nehru Report.
• They viewed the report's dominion status idea as a regression.
• The developments at the All Parties Conference reinforced their criticism.
• In response, Nehru and Subhash Bose rejected the Congress' modified goal and founded the Independence for India League.