THE CABINET MISSION PLAN, 1946

The Cabinet Mission Plan, 1946

Not only the Muslims in 1940 but also the British government in 1946 understood the reality of geographical remoteness in defining the borders of the future state of Pakistan

Introduction:

In the fulfilment of the promise made during 1945-46 elections, the British Government sent three senior members of the British Cabinet, in March 1946, as a last attempt to preserve unity of Inidan federation.Cabinet Mission comprised of 3 people

·                     Pethick Lawrence who was secretary of India at that time

·                     Stafford Cripps came back again

·                     A V Alexander was the third member of the Cabinet Mission plan

The delegation flew from London and arrived in Delhi of March 24, 1946. Represetating the Congress Maulana abdul Kalam Azad and Gandhiji took a plea for the preservation of the Indian Union and introduction of federal form of government. The Quaid e Azam M. A Jinnah tried to impress upon the members that Pakistan was the only possible solution of the Indian problem.

Difference of opinion between the two major political parties was substantial and sharp. The Mission tried to make an effort to bring about the parties to a conciliatory formula acceptable for both.

Leaders of the two major parties were invited at Simla from May 5, to 12, 1946 to discuss matters. Seven sessions were held but no result could be achieved.

Recommendations:

After the declaration of its failure to bring about the parties to a conciliatory formula, the Mission published its own proposals on May 16, 1946 with the hope that if these proposals were implemented, rights of the Muslims and other minorities will be fully safeguarded within the framework of an Indian Union. Summed up here are the major proposals of the Cabinet Mission Plan.

(1) A federal type of Government was to be established in the center for the whole of India embracing both the British India and the Princely States.

(2) The central Government was to deal with foreign affairs, defence and communication; and other powers were to be vested in the provinces and states.

(3) Grouping Schemes: Provinces shall be divided into three groups formed under following formula: Group A; six Hindu majority provinces; Group B; three Muslim majority provinces; Group C; two Muslim majority provinces:

 (3) Internal Independence of the Provincial Groups: Members of the Constituent Assembly shall be divided into three groups and shall frame constitutions for their respective groups. After the date of first elections held under the Constitution, each provincial legislature shall be given a chance to decide whether it wanted to remain a part of the group or quit it.

(4) Establishment of the Interim Government: The Plan further envisaged that an interim government shall be formed at the center till the formation of the constitution and its implementation. In this government, all important portfolios, including the Ministry of Defense, shall be held by the Indians.

Reaction of the political parties:

Muslim League Reaction:

The ML was not fully satisfied with all the recommendations however the idea of grouping of the provinces and then the option to review the relationship with the union gave a hope for the realization of the Pakistan goal that is they can review the relationship and have option to quit the Indian union. So this was something which was acceptable under the given circumstances along with reservations by the ML which accordingly accepted the Cabinet Mission Plan with the reservations and assertions that with the ultimate goal is Pakistan.

Congress Reaction:

So far as the Congress was concerned it was critical of grouping the 3 groups that the British had proposed in this Mission and also the right of the provinces to ask for the review of the constitutional relationship because they felt that some of the provinces or groups may opt out of the union and that was not desirable to Congress which wanted united India and which was not in favour of a separate homeland for the Muslims of this Sub-Continent. However the Congress agreed to become part of the process of the election but it argued that it would go into the Constituent assemblies without reservations and once it is in the constituent assemblies it could frame any constitution it could discard any provision of the Mission. It was free to do anything it wished. This is what which alarmed the ML which means that if the Congress goes into the constituent assembly it could do away with the groupings, it could do away with the option of review, so the Congress response perturbed the ML.