Consider the following statements with respect to The Rowlatt Act:
1. It was officially called the Anarchical and Revolutionary Crimes Act.
2. The law of habeas corpus was sought to be suspended.
3. Muhammed Ali Jinnah, member of the Imperial Legislative Council, resigned in protest.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3 only
Explanation
Statement 1 is correct. The Rowlatt Act, passed in 1919, was officially titled the "Anarchical and Revolutionary Crimes Act." It granted colonial authorities sweeping powers, including detention without trial, to suppress revolutionary activities. The Act faced widespread condemnation for curbing civil liberties and marked a turning point in India's fight against British oppression.
Statement 2 is correct. The Rowlatt Act aimed to suspend habeas corpus, allowing indefinite detention without trial. This undermined legal rights and democratic principles, fueling resentment across India. Gandhi and other leaders launched the Rowlatt Satyagraha to protest, which united Indians in a nonviolent struggle and escalated tensions, culminating in the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre.
Statement 3 is correct. In 1919, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, alongside leaders like Madan Mohan Malaviya, Mazhar-ul-Haq, and Basant Kumar Das, protested the Rowlatt Act. Jinnah resigned from the Imperial Legislative Council, denouncing the Act as draconian. Their collective defiance symbolized growing unity among leaders across regions and ideologies against British policies, strengthening India's independence movement.
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