Question

The Mountbatten Plan became the basis for
1. Continuity of British rule
2. Transfer of power
3. Partition of the country
4. Solution of communal problems

Answer 1

Correct Answer - Option 3 : Partition of the country

The correct answer is Partition of the country.

• Mountbatten Plan:
  • The Mountbatten Plan became the basis for the Partition of the country.
  • Lord Mountbatten was the last Viceroy of India and was assigned the task of a speedy transfer of power by the then British Prime Minister Clement Atlee.
  • In May 1947, Mountbatten came up with a plan under which he proposed that the provinces be declared independent successor states and then be allowed to choose whether to join the constituent assembly or not. This plan was called the ‘Dickie Bird Plan’.
  • Jawaharlal Nehru when apprised of the plan, vehemently opposed it saying it would lead to the Balkanisation of the country.
  • Hence, this plan was also called Plan Balkan.
  • Then, the viceroy came up with another plan called the June 3 Plan.

• Provisions of the Mountbatten Plan:
  • British India was to be partitioned into two dominions i.e. India and Pakistan.
  • The constitution framed by the Constituent Assembly would not be applicable to the Muslim-majority areas (as these would become Pakistan).
  • The question of a separate constituent assembly for the Muslim-majority areas would be decided by these provinces.
  • As per the plan, the legislative assemblies of Bengal and Punjab met and voted for the partition.
  • Accordingly, it was decided to partition these two provinces along religious lines.
  • The legislative assembly of Sind would decide whether to join the Indian constituent assembly or not.
  • It decided to go to Pakistan.
  • A referendum was to be held on NWFP (North-Western Frontier Province) to decide which dominion to join.
  • NWFP decided to join Pakistan while Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan boycotted and rejected the referendum.
  • The date for the transfer of power was to be August 15, 1947.
  • To fix the international boundaries between the two countries, the Boundary Commission was established chaired by Sir Cyril Radcliffe.
  • The commission was to demarcate Bengal and Punjab into the two new countries.
  • The princely states were given the choice to either remain independent or accede to India or Pakistan.
  • The British suzerainty over these kingdoms was terminated.