The Gandhi-Irwin Pact included which of the following?
1. Invitation to Congress to participate in the Round Table Conference
2. Withdrawal of Ordinances promulgated in connection with the Civil Disobedience Movement
3. Acceptance of Gandhiji’s suggestion for enquiry into police excesses
4. Release of only those prisoners who were not charged with violence
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Explanation
Official Key Status: UPSC dropped this question from final scoring due to phrasing ambiguities, but as per historical facts, statements 1, 2, and 4 are correct while statement 3 was rejected.
– 1. Invitation to Round Table Conference (Included): Congress agreed to suspend the Civil Disobedience Movement and participate in the Second Round Table Conference in London.
– 2. Withdrawal of Ordinances (Included): The British Government agreed to withdraw all emergency ordinances promulgated to suppress the Civil Disobedience Movement.
– 4. Release of non-violent prisoners (Included): The Government agreed to release political prisoners, explicitly exempting those convicted of violent offences.
– 3. Enquiry into police excesses (Excluded): Viceroy Lord Irwin firmly turned down Gandhiji’s demand for an impartial public inquiry into police excesses committed during the movement.
Hence, factually the pact included 1, 2, and 4 — Option B.