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256 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
This table does not show quite clearly the weightage obtained by the Muslims under the Lucknow Pact. It was worked out by the Government of India in their despatch* on the Report of Franchise Committee of which Lord Southborough was the Chairman. The following table is taken from that despatch which shows that the Muslims got a weightage under the Lucknow Pact far in excess of what Government gave them in 1909.
| Col1 | Muslim per- centage of Population (1) | Percentage of Muslim seats Proposed (2) | Percentage (2) of (1) (3) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bengal ... ... Bihar and Orissa ... Bombay ... ... Central Provinces ... Madras ... ... Punjab ... ... United Provinces ... | 52.6 10.5 20.4 4.3 6.5 54.8 14.0 | 40 25 33.3 15 15 50 30 | 76 238 163 349 231 91 214 |
In 1927 the British Government announced the appointment of the Simon Commission to examine the working of the Indian Constitution and to suggest further reforms. Immediately the Muslims came forward with further political demands. These demands were put forth from various Muslim platforms such as the Muslim League, All-India Muslim Conference, AllParties Muslim Conference, Jamiat-ul-Ulema and the Khilafat Conference. The demands were substantially the same. It would suffice to state those that were formulated by Mr. Jinnah† on behalf of the Muslim League.
- Fifth despatch on Indian Constitutional Reforms (Franchises), dated 23rd April 1919, para 21. † The demands are known as Mr. Jinnah’s 14 points. As a matter of fact they are 15 in number and were formulated at a meeting of Muslim leaders of all shades of opinion held at Delhi in March 1927 and were known as the Delhi Proposals. For Mr. Jinnah’s explanation of the origin of his 14 points, see All- India Register, 1929, Vol. I., p. 367.