In this article, we discuss the Gandhi-Irwin pact of 1931 and its main objective in detail.
Gandhiji started the Civil Disobedience Movement on 6 April 1930 by breaking the salt law in Dandi.
A month later, in May 1930, the Simon Commission published its report. To discuss this report, in November 1930, when the British government organized the First Round Table Conference, Congress refused to participate in it.
Congress refused because it was busy in the Civil Disobedience Movement. Because of this, the first round table conference failed and no result came out.
The British government pressurized Viceroy of India, Lord Irwin, to convince congress in any way for the Second Round Table Conference.
Lord Irwin approached Gandhiji and had 8 meetings in 15 days. Its result came out with an agreement which is also known as Gandhi-Irwin Pact. Gandhi Irwin Pact was signed on 5 March 1931.
With this agreement, Gandhiji stopped the Civil Disobedience Movement. Congress agreed to go to the Second Round Table Conference.
The main points in the agreement are -
1.All political prisoners against whom there is no charge will be released.
2.The British government will give back the lands that the British government had confiscated due to non-payment of tax.
3.Making salt in the coastal areas will be allowed.
4.Peaceful dharna will be allowed in front of shops selling foreign goods.
5.Those who left their jobs during the Civil Disobedience Movement will be taken back to their jobs.
6.All the ordinances passed by the British government to stop the Civil Disobedience Movement will be taken back.
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