Previous Year Question

The British Government announced its plan for the transfer of power on 3 June 1947, which also contained the procedure leading to the partition of India.

To consider this plan, an emergency meeting of the All India Congress Committee (AICC) was held in New Delhi on 14 and 15 June 1947. In view of the prevailing circumstances, the Congress accepted the 3 June Plan and the possibility of partition arising from it.

However, not all leaders within the Congress favoured accepting partition. Dr. Saifuddin Kitchlew was a strong opponent of partition and remained a supporter of a united India.

Kitchlew regarded the Congress acceptance of partition as a “surrender of nationalism in favour of communalism.” In his view, partition on religious lines was contrary to the principle of Indian nationalism for which the freedom movement had struggled for a long period.

Kitchlew believed that partition would particularly weaken the political and economic interests of Indian Muslims. On the other hand, Congress leaders who accepted the plan cited circumstances such as ongoing communal violence, political deadlock and the need for an early transfer of power in explaining their decision.

Therefore, the statement mentioned in the question is associated with Dr. Saifuddin Kitchlew.