The Indian National Congress and the Muslim Delegation of 1906 PDF

## The Indian National Congress and the Muslim Delegation of 1906 The Indian National Congress was formed in 1885 with the goal of safeguarding the interests of all communities in the Indian subcontinent. - The Congress opposed the partition of Bengal in 1905, which proposed splitting it into two...

## The Indian National Congress and the Muslim Delegation of 1906 The Indian National Congress was formed in 1885 with the goal of safeguarding the interests of all communities in the Indian subcontinent. - The Congress opposed the partition of Bengal in 1905, which proposed splitting it into two provinces, East Bengal and West Bengal. This action created mistrust among Muslims towards the Congress. - The rise of Hindu nationalist movements following the 1857 war of Independence posed a threat to the Muslim community. - The failure of the 1857 War, combined with the rise of Hindu nationalism, caused a great deal of hardship for the Muslim community. However, by the early 20th century, Muslims began to regain their confidence in the wake of Lloyd George's victory in the elections of 1905. - The Liberal Party, led by Lloyd George, declared its intention to introduce constitutional reforms in India. - Muslim leadership believed that it was wise to present their demands to the government for consideration in these future reforms. A delegation of 35 Muslims, led by Sir Agha Khan and representing different regions of India, met with the Viceroy of India, Lord Minto, on October 1, 1906. The delegation presented the following demands: - Given that the circumstances in India are distinct from those of England due to the existence of two major communities (Muslims and Hindus), the delegation made the following demands: - A system of separate electorates should be introduced to India, in consideration of the Muslim population's minority status. - A quota in government services must be reserved for Muslims. - Muslim judges should be appointed to handle cases involving Muslims. - To highlight the historical background of Muslims in India, the delegation demanded additional seats for them in legislative assemblies, beyond their proportionate population. - Mohammedan Anglo Oriental (MAO) College should be granted university status. Viceroy Lord Minto showed respect to the Muslim delegation and ensured that their demands would be considered and not ignored.