When the government did not accept the NehruReport, Congress declared ‘Poorna Swaraj’ or complete independence from British rule as its main objective. This resolution was passed at the Lahore Session of 1929.
Nehru Report
When Lord Birkenhead, the Secretary of State for India, justified the exclusion of Indians in the Simon Commission saying that the Indians are not united and hence cannot arrive at an agreed scheme of Protests against the Simon Commission reforms, an All Parties Conference was organized in 1928 to suggest reforms for the country. The Liberal and Assertive Nationalists, leaders of the Muslim League, Hindu Mahasabha, and Depressed Classes came together and made Motilal Nehru the Chairman of the Committee. The report which was submitted by the All Parties Conference came to be known as the ‘Nehru Report’. The report demanded Dominion Status for India and aimed at finding solutions to the communal problem in the country.
Declaration of Poorna Swaraj
The Congress in the Kolkata Session asked the government to either accept the Nehru Report or be prepared to face the mass agitations. When the government did not accept the Report, Congress declared ‘Poorna Swaraj’ or complete independence from British rule as its main objective. This resolution was passed at the Lahore Session of 1929. Jawaharlal Nehru, the President of the Congress Session in 1929, led a procession at Lahore and hoisted the tricolor. The following programs were adopted by the Congress Working Committee:
- To prepare for the Civil Disobedience Movement.
- Poorna Swaraj or complete independence was declared as the main aim of the Indian National Movement.
- To observe 26 January as Poorna Swaraj Day or the Day of Independence every year .
- All the members of the legislatures had to resign.
Civil Disobedience Movement
The Civil Disobedience Movement started with the Dandi March by Gandhi. He began the march from Sabarmati Ashram to Dandi, a small village located at the sea coast of Gujarat. He made salt in violation of the Salt Law and began the Civil Disobedience Movement. He chose salt as the Salt Tax was affecting every section of Indian society, especially the poor. The breaking of the Salt Law at Dandi marked the beginning of the Civil Disobedience Movement.
Also, Read Civil Disobedience Movement