Conditions made in the Gandhi-Irwin Pact/Delhi Pact are given below:
1. to release all political prisoners not convicted for violence.
2. to permit the people living near the seacoast to collect or manufacture salt, without the payment of duty.
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3. to permit peaceful picketing of liquor, opium and foreign cloth shops.
4. the remission of all fines not yet collected.
5. scheme for the constitutional government at the centre was to be of a federal type with reservations or safeguards in respect of external affairs, minorities, and financial credit of India.
6. return of confiscated lands not yet sold to third parties.
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7. the government promised to undo the injuries inflicted on the individuals during CDM.
8. to withdraw the emergency ordinances.
9. to withdraw all pending cases against the political workers.
10. lenient treatment for those government employees who had resigned
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Mahatma Gandhi’s agreement on behalf of the Congress included:
1. immediate withdrawal of the Civil Disobedience Movement.
2. to participate in the Second Round Table Conference.
3. not to press for the investigation of the police excesses during C.D.M.
4. to stop all boycott.
The Karachi Congress approved the settlement and appointed Gandhi to represent the Congress at the Second Round Table Conference for round table conferences refer to timeline II scheduled to be held in September, 1931.
While Gandhi was in Europe, the Government of India intensified repression and promulgated Ordinances.
There were signs of great resentment in Bengal, (U. P.), Frontier Province etc. As soon as Gandhi landed at Bombay (28th December 1931), he deplored the Ordinances and also condemned terrorist activities.
After his discussion with the Congress Working Committee, he sought an interview with the Viceroy. In the absence of any favourable response, the Working Committee decided to launch a movement to boycott all foreign clothes.
Gandhi was arrested on 4th January 1932, at Bombay and put in Yarvada jail. Other leaders too were arrested.
But the boycott and the Civil Disobedience Movement continued unabated. As the government became more repressive, the people became more aggressive.
Meanwhile, on 16th August, the scheme of representation to the minorities and Depressed Classes in the Central and Provincial Assemblies and other elected bodies otherwise known as Communal Award, was announced by Ramsay MacDonald, the British Prime Minister.
According to this Award, the Depressed Classes were considered a separate community and as such separate electorate should be provided for them.
The scheme confirmed the worst fears of Gandhi. The government wanted to divide the people and encourage them to get busy fighting each other.
Gandhi declared his resolve to resist the scheme and announced that he would go on fast with effect from 20th September.
On that day the deep-seated prejudices of caste seem to give way, the Upper Caste Hindus fraternized with the untouchables and mixed freely in thousands of meetings all over the country.
The doors of a large number of temples which were earlier closed for the untouchables were suddenly thrown open all over the country.
At last an agreement known as Poona Pact, between the Congress leaders and Dr. Ambedkar, was hammered out.
As per Poona Pact arrangement for reservation of seats for depressed classes amongst Hindus in Provincial Legislatures and Central Legislature was made.
The number of seats reserved for them in the provincial legislatures was to be increased from 71 in the Communal Award to 147 and in Central Legislature to 18 per cent of the total.
Following this agreement, urgent telegrams were sent by Pandit Malaviya, B. R. Ambedkar and Tej Bahadur Sapru to the premier in London to accept the agreement and make necessary changes in the proposal.
The British Cabinet agreed and the same was announced on 26th September. According to the medical bulletin, there was a clear danger to Gandhi’s life even if he broke the fast immediately.
Gandhi decided to break his fast after the acceptance of the pact by the Government in the jail at 5.15 PM, Monday, 26th September 1932. The country observed untouchability week from 27th September to 3rd October.
In 1933 INC suspends Civil Disobedience Movement but authorizes Satyagraha by individuals. However in 1934 it was finally withdrawn.
Meanwhile Gandhiji withdraws from active politics and devotes himself to ‘constructive programmes’ (1934-39).