Delhi Pact - An overview
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The Delhi Pact, also known as the Nehru-Liaquat Pact, was signed post an increase in the tension between India and Pakistan in East Pakistan (now known as Bangladesh). The economic relations between the two countries had worsened in December 1949, leading to an estimated one million people crossing the borders during 1950. These people included the Hindus from East Pakistan and Muslims from West Bengal.
The Delhi Pact was a bilateral agreement signed between the two countries so as to provide a framework for the rightful treatment of minorities in both India and Pakistan. This pact allowed the refugees to return unmolested so that they could dispose of their property. It allowed looted property and abducted women to be returned, minority rights to be confirmed and forced conversions to be unrecognized. Minority commissions were set up to implement these terms. The signing of this pact brought about a sense of confidence for a while but in the months following the pact, more than a million additional refugees had migrated to West Bengal. The relations between the two countries were further in muddy waters due to the ongoing struggle over Kashmir.
When Was the Delhi Pact Signed?
The Delhi Pact was signed between Jawahar Lal Nehru, then Prime Minister of India, and Liaquat Ali Khan, then prime minister of Pakistan on April 8, 1950. This treaty followed a discussion that took place over a period of six days, between the two countries.
Need For Signing the Delhi Pact
The partition of the Indian subcontinent into Pakistan and India in 1947 led to a horrifying level of communal riots. Trade and industry between India and Pakistan were cut off in December 1949 and by 1950, approx one million people had migrated across borders. These included the Hindus from East Pakistan and Muslims from West Bengal. East Pakistan, which is present-day Bangladesh, was a provincial state of Pakistan. It existed in the Bengal region between 1955 and 1971.
There was a violent atmosphere prevailing between the two countries. There were brutal attacks on women and children and they created a sense of insecurity in the minorities of both countries. Scores of Hindus and Sikhs left Pakistan and came to India and those who did not migrate were looked upon with suspicion. A similar situation prevailed in India, where the Muslims had to undergo the same trauma.
The then Prime Minister of Pakistan, Liaquat Ali Khan decided to curtail the fearsome situation that had gripped the nation. He issued a statement stating that there was a need for an immediate solution to this grave situation. He also proposed to have a meeting with his Indian counterpart to look into the problem. The meeting between the two Prime Ministers took place on April 2, 1950, whereby they signed an agreement six days later on April 8, for safeguarding the rights of the minorities. This agreement came to be known as the Liaquat-Nehru Pact or the Delhi Pact, 1950.
Salient Features of the Delhi Pact
By signing the Delhi pact, the two countries agreed that each shall ensure complete equality of citizenship to the minorities throughout its territory, irrespective of their religion.
The citizens were to be allowed a full sense of security in respect of culture, life, property, and personal honor.
They would be given freedom of movement within each country along with freedom of speech, occupation, and worship, subject to law and morality.
The pact allowed the members of the minorities to have equal opportunity with members of the majority community for participating in the public life of their country, holding political or other offices, and serving in their country’s civil and armed forces.
These rights were declared fundamental by both Governments that undertook to enforce these rights effectively.
Delhi Pact, 1931
Another important treaty signed between India and Pakistan was the Gandhi-Irwin Pact, also known as the Delhi Pact, 1931. This agreement was signed on 5th March 1931 between Mahatma Gandhi and the then viceroy of India, Lord Irwin. This pact was considered a significant one because it was the first time that Gandhi and the viceroy had met as ‘equals’. It was signed prior to the second round table conference in London. By signing the Gandhi-Irwin Pact, Gandhiji reflected his consent to participate in a Second Round Table Conference in London. As part of the pact, the government agreed to release the political prisoners.
The following conditions were proposed in the pact:
The Salt March to be discontinued by the Indian National Congress
INC was to participate in the Second Round Table Conference
All ordinances issued by the Indian Government that curbed the activities of the INC were to be withdrawn
All prosecutions pertaining to various types of political offenses (Rowlatt Act) were to be withdrawn, except those involving acts of violence
Prisoners arrested for participating in the Salt March were to be released
Removal of the tax on salt, which would allow Indians to produce, sell, and trade in salt legally and for their private use
FAQs on Delhi Pact
1. What was the Delhi Pact of 1950?
The Delhi Pact of 1950, more formally known as the Liaquat-Nehru Pact, was a bilateral agreement signed on April 8, 1950, in Delhi. It was signed between Jawaharlal Nehru, the Prime Minister of India, and Liaquat Ali Khan, the Prime Minister of Pakistan. The primary purpose of this pact was to provide a framework for the protection of the rights of religious minorities in both countries following the widespread communal violence after the Partition of India.
2. How is the Delhi Pact of 1950 different from the Gandhi-Irwin Pact, which is also called the Delhi Pact?
This is a common point of confusion for students. These were two entirely different agreements from different historical periods:
- The Delhi Pact of 1950 (Nehru-Liaquat Pact): This was an agreement between India and Pakistan aimed at resolving the issue of minority rights post-Partition.
- The Delhi Pact of 1931 (Gandhi-Irwin Pact): This was an agreement between Mahatma Gandhi and Lord Irwin, the then Viceroy of India. It concerned the suspension of the Civil Disobedience Movement and Congress's participation in the Second Round Table Conference during the Indian freedom struggle.
3. What were the main objectives of the Nehru-Liaquat Pact?
The main objectives of the Delhi Pact were to address the severe communal tensions in the subcontinent. The key goals were to:
- Guarantee the safety, security, and full citizenship rights to religious minorities in both India and Pakistan.
- Restore confidence among minorities to prevent mass migrations.
- Establish Minority Commissions in both nations to enforce these rights and report on the situation.
- Ensure that both governments would work to put an end to communal violence and avert the threat of another war.
4. What were the key provisions agreed upon in the Delhi Pact?
The Delhi Pact contained several specific provisions to protect minorities. The key agreements were:
- Minorities shall have equal rights to citizenship, life, property, culture, and personal liberty.
- Freedom of movement and protection during transit were assured for migrating populations.
- All forced religious conversions were declared invalid and condemned.
- The property of minorities who had migrated was to be protected, with provisions for its disposal or return.
- Commissions of Enquiry were to be established in both countries to investigate the causes of recent communal disturbances and punish the guilty.
5. Why did some Indian leaders oppose the Delhi Pact of 1950?
The pact faced significant opposition within India. Two prominent cabinet ministers, Dr. Shyama Prasad Mookerjee (Minister for Industry and Supply) and K.C. Neogy (Minister for Commerce), resigned from the cabinet in protest. Their primary argument was that the pact was an act of appeasement and that Pakistan could not be trusted to uphold its end of the agreement, leaving the Hindu minority in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) vulnerable. Dr. Mookerjee later founded the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, a precursor to the modern Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
6. Was the Delhi Pact of 1950 ultimately considered a success?
The success of the Delhi Pact is debated by historians. In the short term, it was partially successful as it helped to de-escalate the immediate communal violence, especially in Bengal, and restored a sense of security. However, its long-term implementation was weak. The underlying issues and mistrust between India and Pakistan persisted, and the protection of minorities remained a significant challenge. The pact did not permanently solve the refugee crisis or prevent future conflicts.
7. What is the historical significance of the Delhi Pact in India-Pakistan relations?
The Delhi Pact holds significant historical importance as it represents one of the first major attempts by the newly independent leadership of India and Pakistan to resolve a major humanitarian crisis through bilateral diplomacy. It established the principle that the welfare of minorities was a shared responsibility. For students of history, the pact is a crucial case study on the immense challenges of nation-building, refugee crises, and minority rights in a post-partition South Asia.
