13. Why was the Muslim League founded Ans: the all India national congress was formed in 1885. at the time of its formation, Congress declared that it will Endeavour to safe guard the interests of all the Indians irrespective of their religion or political thinking. But soon after its inception, the congress acted in a pure Hindu way and projected the interests of thé Hindu from its platform. The congress's role during partition of Bengal was cancelied mainly due to the pressure that congress agitation built up on the government. It also demanded the introduction of western democracy in India and recruitment in government services by open competitive examinations. These demands were meant to wipe out the Muslims from Indian society. Due to this highly partisan role of congress, the Muslims realized that they could not afford to be disorganized and disunited. The Indian national congress was seen by many as purely a Hindu organization for the Muslims to wish to join. As it was inevitable that some Muslim groups should be formed. The Muslims were extremely disturbed by the congress demands that India should be treated as a culture whole and Hindi should be declared as the national language. The emergence of extreme Hindu nationalist group, such as Arya Samaj also created difficulties for the Mustims by demanding thst Muslims should be forcibly converted to Hinduism. A delegation of prominent Muslim leaders met the viceroy Lord Minto at Simla on 8" October 1906. The delegation apprised the viceroy of the Muslim concern over the congress's anti-Muslim role. The simla delegation demanded that the Muslims should be separately represented in all local and provincial elections. It also demanded that the Muslims should be given weight age in all elected bodies. The viceroy accepted the demands and promised to consider other problems of Muslim favorably. In short the success of simla delegation made it imperative for the ‘Muslims to have their own political forum. One thing was certain after the simla delegation that Muslims had acquired for themselves an independent role in the political process. The Muslims tried their best to coniinue the congress to accept them as separate and significant group in India. But the congress under Sir Phenroze Shah Mehta, refused pushing the prominent Musiims to only one iogical conclusion that the Wuslims needed a party of their own to represent and protect their interests. THE