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History & Civics

Using the following points, briefly describe the Mountbatten Plan of June, 1947 :

(a) Main clauses of the Mountbatten Plan.

(b) Why did the Congress and the Muslim League accept this plan?

India Independence

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Answer

(a) The main clauses of the Mountbatten Plan are given below:

  1. The country would be divided into two Dominions of India and Pakistan.
  2. Referendum was to be held in the province of NWFP so as to ascertain whether the people there wished to stay with the Union of India or Pakistan.
  3. The provinces of Assam, Bengal and Punjab were also to be divided.
  4. The Princely states would have the option to join either of the two Dominions of India or Pakistan
  5. The transfer of power was to be formalised on August 15, 1947.

(b) The Congress accepted the Mountbatten Plan because of the following reasons :

  1. The large scale violence and communal riots happening all over India.
  2. Bitter experience of working with the League in the Interim Government.
  3. India could not afford a Federation with a weak Union Government.
  4. A further delaying of Partition would have led to further continuation of the British Rule.
  5. Delay in Partition or transfer of power could lead to a civil war throughout India which it could ill afford.

The Muslim League accepted the Mountbatten Plan because it fulfilled their long-standing demand for a separate nation, Pakistan.

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