The correct option is 1 and 4 only.
Explanation
The Gandhi-Irwin Pact, also known as the Delhi Pact, was a political agreement signed by Mahatma Gandhi and Lord Irwin, the Viceroy of India, on March 5, 1931. It marked a significant truce between the British Government and the Indian National Congress, aiming to create a conducive environment for constitutional discussions.
Statement-wise Analysis:
- Statement 1 is Correct: The pact was signed on March 5, 1931. This was after the First Round Table Conference (which Congress boycotted) and before the Second Round Table Conference (September-December 1931). One of the primary objectives of the pact was to ensure Congress participation in the Second Round Table Conference.
- Statement 2 is Incorrect: A central condition of the agreement was that the Indian National Congress would discontinue the Civil Disobedience Movement. It did not allow the movement to continue.
- Statement 3 is Incorrect: The pact did not strictly prohibit all salt manufacture. The government conceded the right to make salt for personal consumption (not for commercial sale) to people living in coastal villages.
- Statement 4 is Correct: The government agreed to withdraw all ordinances issued to curb the movement and release all political prisoners, except those convicted of violence. This clause was controversial as it meant revolutionaries like Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, and Sukhdev were not granted amnesty.
Key Takeaway:
The Gandhi-Irwin Pact (1931) led to the suspension of the Civil Disobedience Movement and Congress participation in the Second Round Table Conference, while securing the release of non-violent political prisoners and the right to make salt for personal use in coastal areas.