The Direct Action Day 1946 - General Knowledge of Modern India
Initially, both the Congress and the Muslim League accepted the cabinet mission, but the Congress could not accept the interim government's plan. It was a ridiculous situation. The League claimed that it could form an internal government even without the Congress. The Viceroy turned down the offer of the League. This angered Jinnah. He was well aware that the position of the League in the Constituent Assembly was weak. Therefore, he rejected the Cabinet Mission plan and threatened to take direct action on 16 August 1946 for the attainment of Pakistan. Let us know about this Direct Action Day, which is also called Black Day of Indian history.
Muslim League vs Congress
After the failure of the Simla Conference, the Cabinet Mission came to India. It rejected Pakistan's demand, but it proposed the formation of an interim government before the constitution and implementation. Both the Congress and the Muslim League accepted the mission's proposals, but a problem arose on the question of joining the Interim Government. In the initial phase, the Congress did not accept joining the interim government. Therefore the Muslim League claimed that it could form the government without the Congress, but the Viceroy was not in favor of forming the government by keeping the Congress aside, so the League's claim was rejected. Jinnah expressed anger over this and rejected the plan of the Cabinet Mission. He decided to take direct action for Pakistan on 16 August 1946. Later, when the Congress agreed to form the government, Nehru suggested Jinnah to join the government, but he stuck to his insistence.
Direct Action Day
On August 16, 1946, there were terrible riots in Calcutta. The people of the league fought and raised the slogan of Pakistan. Thousands of people lost their lives in this communal riot. Spreading from Bengal, this riot spread to Noakhali, Bihar and other places. The Muslim League was now in a state of desperation. By any means she wanted to grab power so that the country could be partitioned and the interests of Muslims could be kept safe.
League's Entry Into Government
After spreading terror, the Muslim League changed its policy. When the Interim Government was being formed, the Viceroy proposed to the League to join the government as well. This time Jinnah accepted the offer. As a result, the League also joined the government. The League had joined the Interim Government with a definite purpose. She joined the government to oppose the policies of the Congress. In the interim government, Muslim League leader Liaquat Ali was entrusted with the finance department. While presenting the new budget, Liaquat Ali made such a budget which included elements of communalism. In the new budget, 25% taxes were imposed on traders, which angered many Hindus doing business. The work of other departments was also becoming difficult due to the finance department. Sardar Patel also expressed anguish that even a peon cannot be appointed in his ministry without the approval of the Finance Department. There was also a difference of opinion between the League and the Congress on the question of language and internal order. It seemed difficult for both of them to work together.
London Congress (December 1946)
To resolve the impasse of the Interim Government, a conference was organized in London on 3-6 December in which Attlee, Wavell, Nehru and Jinnah participated. In this, an attempt was made to resolve the differences between the two (Congress-League) but success did not materialise. The League boycotted the Constituent Assembly meeting to be held in December 1946.
Atlee's Announcement
Concerned by the current situation in India, British Prime Minister Attlee announced on 20 February 1947 that the British would hand over power completely to the Indians before June 1948. It was also said in the declaration that if the Constituent Assembly could not prepare a constitution by that date, then the British government would decide to whom the power should be handed over - to a central government or to the provincial governments. Mountbatten was appointed as the new Viceroy in place of Lord Wavell to carry out the task of devolution of power.
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Modern India