Why did Congress oppose Minto- Morley reforms?
Answers
Answer:
The Indian Councils Act 1909 (9 Edw. 7 Ch. 4), commonly known as the Morley-Minto or Minto-Morley Reforms, was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that brought about a limited increase in the involvement of Indians in the governance of British India.
Explanation:
A 1909 legislative enactment, called the Morley-Minto reforms, conferred some political reforms which encouraged the constitutionalists in the Congress. Indians who could be elected to the legislatures on the basis of the 1861 Indian Councils Act increased numerically. The executive remained under strong British control and the government's consultative mode remained unchanged. The reforms established Indian dominance in the provincial, but not central, legislative bodies. Elections, mainly indirect, were affirmed for all levels of society. The elected Indians were also enabled to debate budgetary and complementary matters and table resolutions.
Despite these reforms the In members still reeled over electoral apportionment. Provinces were delegated electoral allocations and administrative changes hindered harmful fusion against the British rule. A major hindrance to coalitions were separate electorates.
Answer:
The Indian National Congress opposed Morley Minto Reforms due to several reasons. One of the most important reasons was the separate electorate system. Lord Minto had accepted the Muslims' demand for a separate electorate system. But Congress claimed that it was undemocratic, and in democracy, the majority should be the authority.
Another reason was the position of Indians in the councils. Although the British had increased the number of Indians in the councils e.g. the Imperial Council was increased to 60 members and the central executive council was also increased by adding 60 more members. But the position of Indians in the councils was purely advisory. The Indians could express their opinions, they could advise on the Govt policies but they did not have the power to change them.
The third reason was the Limited enfranchise. All the Indians were not given voting rights. The reforms did not enfranchise women. They were not given political status or representation in the assemblies.
The fourth and the most important reason was the partition of Bengal. The Indian National Congress claimed that t the partition had nothing to do with administrative efficiency. They believed that the British had tried to weaken Hindu unity by dividing Bengal and establishing east Bengal with a Muslim majority. Congress claimed that the reforms gave Muslims more rights than Hindus. Congress also demanded more rights from British Govt. For all these reasons the Congress opposed Morley-Minto reforms.
Explanation: