1. What is the idea of separate electorates that Ballabh Pant was opposed to?

Question

Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow.

1. What is the idea of separate electorates that Ballabh Pant was opposed to?

2. Why does Ballabh Pant call separate electorates as 'suicidal to minorities'?

3. Explain the counter arguments in favour of separate electorates as B. Pocker Bahadur put forward.

Answer 1

1. When people in a region are separated according to religion, caste or gender and vote for the representative in their electorate.

2. Separate electorates could be suicidal for minorities according to Pant because he believed that minorities will never be able to integrate with the country.

3. According to Bahadur, separate electorates were the only way for minorities to claim a place in a country and make a safe space for themselves.