Why did the Indian leaders oppose the Rowlatt Acton?
Answers
The Anarchical and Revolutionary Crimes Act of 1919, popularly known as the Rowlatt Act also known as Black Act, was a legislative act passed by the Imperial Legislative Council in Delhi on March 18, 1919. The recommendation to pass such an act was put forwarded Rowlatt committee under the presidentship of British judge Sir Sydney Rowlatt .(The committee was named after him). The act permitted the government to imprison any person suspected of terrorism within their territorial jurisdiction, for upto two years without a trial, alienating the right of Habeas Corpus .
The INC doubted the very nature of the act which was repressive and was introduced by the Britishers to curb the growing nationalist upsurge in the country. Mahatma Gandhi and many other nationalist at the time were opposing it, their point was that not everyone should be punished severely for commission of meagre political crimes. Rowlatt Satyagraha was started to show the discontent of masses towards such a repressive measure.
The infamous Jallianwallah Bagh Massacre in April 1919 also occured after the effective implementation of the Rowlatt Act(which came into effect in March 1919).
A policy of Carrot and Stick was practised by the Britishers, the Rowlatt Act one of many such sticks to discourage popular public political participation. However, the public support was against the act which led to the successful repealing of this act in March 1922.
1) this law has been hurriedly pass through the Imperial Legislative Council despite the opposition of Indian members.
2) it gave the government enormous power to repress political activities and allow detention of political prisoners without trial for two years.