Consider the following statements about the Rowlatt Act of 1919 :
- 1. It was passed by the Imperial Legislative Council
- 2. Khilafat Committee was formed to oppose the Act
- 3. While Gandhiji was arrested, the local leaders were allowed to continue the protest
How many of the above statements is/are NOT correct ?
One
Two
Three
None
Answer is Right!
Answer is Wrong!
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2024
1. It was passed by the Imperial Legislative Council: This is correct. The Anarchical and Revolutionary Crimes Act of 1919 (Rowlatt Act) was passed by the Imperial Legislative Council despite unanimous opposition from the elected Indian members, relying on the official majority.
2. Khilafat Committee was formed to oppose the Act: This is incorrect. The Khilafat Committee was formed in 1919 to protest against the harsh terms imposed on the Ottoman Empire after World War I and to defend the Caliphate. While the Khilafat issue later merged with the Non-Cooperation Movement which also included opposition to the Rowlatt Act, the committee’s primary reason for formation was the Khilafat issue, not the Rowlatt Act itself.
3. While Gandhiji was arrested, the local leaders were allowed to continue the protest: This is incorrect. Gandhiji was arrested on April 10, 1919, while on his way to Punjab. Many local leaders, including Dr. Satyapal and Dr. Saifuddin Kitchlew in Amritsar, were also arrested as part of the government’s suppression of the protests against the Rowlatt Act. These arrests often escalated tensions and led to further unrest, as seen in Amritsar leading to the Jallianwala Bagh massacre.
Statements 2 and 3 are incorrect.