Reasons
- In response to Indians’ resistance to the Simon Commission, Lord Birkenhead (Secretary of State for India) issued a challenge to Indian nationalists to band together and present an agreed-upon proposal of constitutional reforms.
- As a response to this, an All Parties Conference appointed a sub committee with Motilal Nehru as its chairman to draft a constitution.
Provisions
- India should have Dominion status with self-governing powers, similar to other dominions.
- Joint electorates with reserved seats for Muslims where they are a minority, rejecting separate electorates.
- Linguistic provinces and nineteen fundamental rights, including equal rights for women, union rights, and universal adult suffrage.
- The Indian Parliament should include a 500-member House of Representatives (5-year term) elected by adult suffrage and a 200-member Senate (7-year term) elected by provincial councils.
- Federal government structure with residuary powers vested in the Centre.
- No separate electorates for minorities to avoid communal division.
- Full protection of cultural and religious rights for Muslims and state separation from religion.
Reactions
- Muslim League
- The league’s leaders rejected the Nehru proposal.
- In reaction, Mohammad Ali Jinnah drafted his Fourteen Points in 1929.
- Younger Section of Congress
- The younger section of the Congress led by Jawaharlal Nehru and Subhash Bose protested and demanded full independence.