Correct Option
The Simon Commission, officially known as the Indian Statutory Commission, was appointed by the British Government in 1927. Its primary objective was to review the working of the Government of India Act 1919 and propose further constitutional reforms for India. The most significant reason for its widespread boycott by Indian political parties, including the Indian National Congress and a faction of the Muslim League, was its all-white composition. All seven members of the Commission were British, with no Indian representation. This exclusion was perceived as a direct insult to Indian self-respect and a denial of their right to participate in shaping their own constitutional future. The boycott was marked by nationwide protests and the slogan "Simon Go Back." The protests, notably led by Lala Lajpat Rai in Lahore, faced severe repression, which further intensified nationalist sentiments.
Incorrect Options
Option (2): The Simon Commission's mandate was to assess constitutional progress and suggest reforms, not to align with or support any specific Indian political party like the Muslim League. While certain factions or individuals might have cooperated with the Commission, its alleged support for the Muslim League was not the reason for the widespread boycott by prominent Indian political entities.
Option (3): While the Indian National Congress and other nationalist groups certainly believed that the people of India were entitled to Swaraj (self-rule), this was a broader, overarching nationalist objective. The immediate and specific reason for boycotting the Simon Commission was its exclusionary composition, which denied Indians a voice in their own constitutional future. The boycott was a direct response to this affront, rather than solely a general assertion of the right to Swaraj.
Option (4): There is no significant historical evidence to suggest that internal differences among the Commission members were a cause for the Indian boycott. The boycott was initiated by Indian political parties as an external protest against the commission's composition and the principle of Indian exclusion, not due to its internal dynamics or disagreements.