why was there so much opposition to the government of India act in 1935
Answers
The Indian Act of 1935 was not liked nor was even appreciated by the Indian people. This
was opposed for a number of reasons. One was that the G.G was head of federation and could
exert special powers in the reserved subjects. All the ultimate control was in the hands of the
viceroy and G.G. The act appeared to grant real power to the people of India, but in reality things
were a little different. Provincial governor also had special powers in the two reserved areas.
They had the authority to dismiss ministers and even the right to dismiss the whole
administration and rule by proclamation during a period of emergency. However the governors
were asked to act upon the advice of Ministers, which seemed to be very beneficial.
Another reason was that the part concerning the central Govt. was never introduced because the
princes rejected the new arrangements. Although the act appeared to give the Indians a say in
running their own country, there was a very limited franchise. The property qualification for
voting meant that only 25% of Indians population was allowed to vote in the provincial elections.
The act was opposed on all sides of India. The Congress, ML and even the princes of states
disliked and resented this act. Nehru called it a “charter of slavery’ and said that it had so many
safeguards that is was like ‘a machine with strong breaks but no engine’. To Jinnah it was simply
‘thoroughly rotten, fundamentally bad and totally unacceptable. It could also be a reason that this
Jinnah’s thinking was a cause of his opposition towards this act.