The attempt of the British to pacify the Congress and the Muslim League was clearly visible in the Cabinet Mission proposals but in reality neither could be pleased. With reference to this, explain:

(a) Any three proposals of the Cabinet Mission.

(b) The reasons for the Muslim League's acceptance and later rejection of the Cabinet Mission Plan.

(c) Why did the Congress refuse to participate in the formation of the Interim Government under the Cabinet Mission Plan?

(a) Three proposals of the Cabinet Mission were-

1. Formation of a Constituent Assembly — A Constituent Assembly would be set up to frame the new Constitution of the Indian Union. The composition of the 389 member Constituent Assembly would be as under:
   (i) 296 members to be elected from the British Provinces.
   (ii) 93 members to be elected from the Princely States.
   The members of the Constituent Assembly would be elected by the Provincial Legislative Assemblies.
2. Representation of Minorities — Separate representation was to be given to Muslims and Sikhs.
3. Formation of an Interim Government — An Interim Government would be formed at the Centre with 14 members. For the time being, the Viceroy would reconstitute his Executive Council consisting of representatives of all communities.

(b) The Muslim League accepted the Cabinet Mission proposals in its entirety in June 1946 because it felt that the grouping of Muslim majority Provinces in a way meant the formation of Pakistan. The League asked Wavell, the Viceroy, to constitute an Interim Government.

The Muslim League rejected the Cabinet Mission Plan as-

1. Elections to the Constituent Assembly were held in July 1946, in which the Congress obtained two-third majority.
2. The League feared that it would be out-voted in the Assembly. It also feared that the British withdrawal from India would mean transfer of power to Hindus, who were in a majority in India.
3. The League's nominees were not prepared to work under Nehru's leadership. They openly rejected the idea of collective responsibility.

(c) The Congress rejected the Viceroy's offer to form an Interim Government because of its limited status and powers and also because the principle of parity with Muslim League was not acceptable to it. It was also opposed to the League's claim that it alone had the right to nominate all the Muslim members to the Executive Council.