POLITICAL SCENARIO OF PUNJAB

Abstract

The political developments in the Punjab during the British period have been a subject of constant interest for long. The year 1928 is as important in the history of India’s freedom movement as the year 1920. It was in 1920 that Mahatma Gandhi had launched an all-India movement in which almost all the religious communities and political groups had participated in great numbers. In 1918, two Rowlatt Bills were introduced in the Imperial Legislative Council. A committee under the chairmanship of Justice Rowlatt was appointed to report on seditious activities and make recommendations for the Legislation. The Bill provided for detention without trial up to two years. Meanwhile, the British published the report on the proposed reforms on the constitutional set up of India. It proposed the enlargement of the Provincial and Central Councils. In the beginning, the movement received tremendous support in Gujrat and Bihar. The Punjab also did not remain behind in taking to Non-Cooperation. The Congress split on the issue of council entry between Changers and No-Changers. The Hindu Muslim relations had been deteriorating since the withdrawal of the Non- Cooperation Movement. The year 1926 was the climax in Hindu- Muslim riots. The principal of separate electorate in few municipalities was enlarged under Minto-Morley Reforms. It provided separate electorate for Muslims.