Correct Option
The correct option is 1 and 3 only.
Explanation
The status of local government in the original Constitution was a subject of intense debate in the Constituent Assembly. While Gandhian principles advocated for "Village Swaraj," the final draft placed local government in the Directive Principles of State Policy (Article 40) rather than making it a mandatory feature, primarily due to concerns regarding national stability and social equity.
Statement 1 is CorrectThe tumultuous events surrounding the Partition of India and the integration of over 500 princely states created an urgent need for political stability. The Constituent Assembly members felt that a strong unitary center was essential to prevent balkanization and maintain order, leading to a preference for centralization over decentralization.
Statement 2 is IncorrectWhile the national leadership prioritized rapid industrialization through centralized planning, there was no general "consensus" that local governments would specifically slow down economic industrialization. The primary arguments against empowering local bodies were political (unity) and social (caste oppression), rather than purely economic arguments regarding the speed of industrial growth.
Statement 3 is CorrectProminent leaders, including Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and Jawaharlal Nehru, were apprehensive about "extreme localism." Dr. Ambedkar famously described the village as "a sink of localism, a den of ignorance, narrow-mindedness and communalism." It was feared that without a strong center, such localism could threaten national integration and perpetuate caste-based oppression.
Key TakeawayThe lack of mandatory provisions for local government in the original Constitution was driven by the post-Partition need for a strong center to ensure national unity and Dr. Ambedkar’s concern that village panchayats would reinforce caste oppression and feudal nature.