Previous Year Question
Muslim League observed the ‘Direct Action Day’ on:
12 August 1942
16 August 1943
16 August 1946
14 August 1947
Correct Answer: C
Detailed Solution
The Muslim League observed 16 August 1946 as Direct Action Day.
Its background was connected with the Cabinet Mission Plan of 1946 and the political deadlock over India's future constitutional arrangement. The Muslim League had initially accepted the Cabinet Mission Plan but subsequently withdrew its acceptance.
On 29 July 1946, the Muslim League decided to launch Direct Action and fixed 16 August 1946 for it. The decision was connected with the League's demand for Pakistan.
Large-scale communal violence broke out in Calcutta on 16 August. The episode later came to be known as the Great Calcutta Killing, and communal tensions subsequently spread to other areas.
This was also an important phase in the transfer-of-power process. A few weeks later, on 2 September 1946, the Interim Government under Jawaharlal Nehru took office.
Therefore, the Muslim League observed Direct Action Day on 16 August 1946.