Cripps Mission & Proposal - General Knowledge of Modern India
In the beginning of 1942, the circumstances of the war forced the British to talk to the Indian leaders. The British army had to face defeat at the hands of the Japanese army in various countries of Southeast Asia. The Japanese also carried out air strikes on many areas of India. At the same time Sir Stafford Cripps, a member of the British Cabinet, was sent to India to talk with the Indian leaders. This was known as Cripps Mission. This negotiation failed. The British were not willing to establish a real national government in India. He also tried to promote the interests of the princely states. Although he accepted the demand of the Constituent Assembly, he insisted that the Indian states should be represented in the assembly by the members nominated by the princely states and the people of the states should not have any representation in it.
Cripps Mission Proposals
- An Indian federation with Dominion status will be established, which will be free to decide relations with the Commonwealth and will be free to participate in the United Nations and other international bodies.
- The Constituent Assembly will be convened after the end of the war to draft a new constitution. The members of this assembly will be partly elected by the provincial assemblies on the basis of proportional representation and partly nominated by the princely states.
- The British government will accept the new constitution only on the following conditions: (a) Whichever province does not want to join the union, can make its own union and separate constitution. (b) The body making the new constitution and the British government shall make a treaty for the devolution of powers and for the protection of ethnic and religious minorities.
- The post of Governor General will remain the same and the responsibility of protecting India will remain in British hands.
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Modern India