It is mainly a Hindu-inspired instrument, and yet contains a
good deal that the Hindus dislike by way of concession to wavering signatories. But though this draft Constitution has not the coherence and conviction necessary to produce history, we give it a hearty welcome for one reason. It is a sign that the policy of non- co-operation with the Simon Commission has for all practical purposes broken down. The Constitution is called the Nehru scheme, because Pandit Motilal Nehru, the Swarajist leader, was Chairman of the Committee which drafted it. It is a scheme for Dominion Home- Rule. It would abolish communal representation. The members of the House of Representatives (which would be substituted for the present All-India Assembly) would be elected by universal suffrage. That would mean that more than three-quarters of the voters would be illiterate. There were, of course, delegates at Lucknow who wanted to go even further than this and demanded for India complete independence.
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