With reference to the proposals of Cripps Mission, consider the following statements:The Constituent

Question

With reference to the proposals of Cripps Mission, consider the following statements:The Constituent Assembly would have members nominated by the Provincial Assemblies as well as the Princely States.Any Province, which is not prepared to accept the new Constitution would have the right to sign a separate agreement with Britain regarding its future status.Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

The Cripps Mission was an attempt in late March 1942 by the British government to secure full Indian cooperation and support for their efforts in World War II. The mission was headed by Sir Stafford Cripps, a senior left-wing politician and government minister in the War Cabinet, who had actively supported the Indian national movement.The main proposals of the mission were as follows:An Indian Union with a dominion status would be set up; it would be free to decide its relations with the Commonwealth.After the end of the war, a Constituent Assembly would be convened to frame a new constitution. Members of this assembly would be partly elected by the provincial assemblies through proportional representation and partly nominated by the princes. Hence statement 1 is not correct.The British government would accept the new constitution subject to two conditions: any province not willing to join the Union could have a separate constitution and form a separate Union, and the new constitution-making body and the British government would negotiate a treaty to effect the transfer of power and to safeguard racial and religious minorities. Hence statement 2 is correct.In the meantime, defense of India would remain in British hands and the governor-general’s powers would remain intact.Source: India's Struggle for Independence (Bipan Chandra)