The Delhi Manifesto, issued on November 2, 1929, outlined several key conditions for Indian leaders' participation in the Round Table Conference, which was scheduled to address constitutional reforms for India:
- Purpose of the Conference: The manifesto emphasized that the Round Table Conference should focus on formulating a constitution for the implementation of dominion status, rather than debating whether or when dominion status would be granted. Essentially, it called for the conference to function as a constituent assembly.
- Representation: It demanded that the Congress should have majority representation at the conference, ensuring that the largest political party in India would have a significant say in the proceedings.
- Amnesty and Conciliation: The manifesto also called for a general amnesty for political prisoners and a policy of conciliation, reflecting the desire for reconciliation and inclusivity in the political process.
Following the issuance of the Delhi Manifesto, Mahatma Gandhi, Motilal Nehru, and other political leaders met with Lord Irwin in December 1929 to seek assurances regarding the purpose of the Round Table Conference. However, Lord Irwin rejected the demands outlined in the manifesto, indicating that the conference's purpose was not aligned with the conditions set forth in the manifesto.
This rejection set the stage for confrontation between Indian nationalists and the British colonial administration, marking a significant turning point in the struggle for India's independence. The failure to reach a consensus on the terms of the Round Table Conference would ultimately lead to further tensions and a deepening of the nationalist movement's resolve to push for complete independence.
