Assam – Prime Minister Narendra Modi‘s recent allegations about the Congress party’s role in Assam’s pre-independence history have ignited the Assam Congress controversy, prompting examination of archival records from 1946. Modi claimed that Congress conspired with the British and Muslim League to merge Assam with East Pakistan, describing it as a “sin” that nearly erased the state’s identity.
Modi’s Allegations at Guwahati Rally
Addressing a rally in Guwahati on December 20 after inaugurating a nature-themed airport, the Prime Minister alleged that Congress had participated in a pre-independence plot regarding Assam’s future. He stated that Assam’s first chief minister, Gopinath Bordoloi, had to “stand up against his own party” to prevent the province from being ceded to what later became East Pakistan. These statements have intensified the Assam Congress controversy and sparked debate about historical interpretation.
The timing of these remarks coincides with violent protests in Bangladesh following the assassination of youth leader Sharif Osman Hadi, adding contemporary geopolitical dimensions to the historical Assam Congress controversy.
The 1946 Cabinet Mission Plan Context
At the heart of the Assam Congress controversy lies the Cabinet Mission Plan of 1946, which mandated that Section C would frame constitutions for both Bengal and Assam. Historical records indicate that the All India Congress Committee, led by Jawaharlal Nehru and Sardar Patel, initially accepted this plan in June 1946 with the objective of maintaining a United India and preventing total Partition.
The Assam Congress controversy intensified because Bengal held 60 representatives compared to Assam’s mere 10 representatives. Assamese leaders feared they would be outvoted by the Muslim League, effectively forcing Assam into a future Muslim-majority sovereign state. The AICC viewed “Grouping” as a temporary governance layer to satisfy the Muslim League and prevent Pakistan’s creation.
Nehru’s Tactical Position on July 10, 1946
Archival records from Nehru’s press conference in Bombay on July 10, 1946, reveal a complex tactical stance central to the Assam Congress controversy. Rather than a straightforward conspiracy, Nehru initially accepted the Plan to ensure British departure but then moved to dismantle the grouping clause from within.
Nehru stated clearly: “The first thing is we have agreed to go into the Constituent Assembly and we have agreed to nothing else… What we do there, we are entirely and absolutely free to determine.” Specifically addressing the Northeast in the Assam Congress controversy, Nehru predicted the grouping scheme’s collapse, stating that Assam would not tolerate grouping with Bengal “under any circumstances whatever.”
Bordoloi’s Historic Constitutional Defiance
Six days after Nehru’s statement, the Assam Congress controversy reached a critical juncture when the Assam Legislative Assembly witnessed historic constitutional defiance on July 16, 1946. Gopinath Bordoloi moved a resolution directing Assam’s representatives to frame the provincial constitution independently of any group or section.
Bordoloi told the House that while unity remained important, the grouping appeared “so far divided to an extent which none have liked.” This position became the focal point of the Assam Congress controversy as it directly challenged the national leadership’s tactical approach.
Muslim League Opposition and Economic Arguments
The Assam Congress controversy intensified with fierce opposition from the Muslim League. Saiyid Sir Muhammad Saadulla, Leader of the Opposition, argued that defying the British mandate would jeopardize Assam’s economic survival. He submitted that Assam was financially bound to Bengal, receiving only ₹30 lakh subvention from the Centre and relying on Bengal for customs revenue from tea and jute.
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Saadulla warned that if Assam “stands out” in the Assam Congress controversy, it would face an “economic breakdown.” Bordoloi remained resolute, famously quoting Shakespeare: “What a fall was there, my countrymen,” to describe the potential surrender of autonomy.
Gandhi’s Decisive Intervention
When national leadership, including Nehru and Sardar Patel, pressured Bordoloi to comply for national unity’s sake, the Assam Congress controversy reached Gandhi. In December 1946, Gandhi famously backed the provincial rebellion, telling Bordoloi’s emissaries: “Assam must not lose its soul. It must uphold it against the whole world… even if Gandhi tries to discard us, we won’t listen.”
This intervention proved decisive in resolving the Assam Congress controversy in favor of Assam’s autonomy and validated Bordoloi’s defiance of the national leadership’s tactical compromise.
Muslim League’s Demographic Strategy
Historical records add another dimension to the Assam Congress controversy. Lord Wavell’s personal diary from 1943 recorded observations about the Muslim League’s strategy under Sir Muhammad Saadulla. Wavell noted that the League’s push for migration under the “Grow More Food” campaign had hidden political motives.
Wavell recorded after a Shillong meeting: “The chief political problem is the desire of the Muslim Ministers to increase the immigration into uncultivated Government lands under the slogan of ‘Grow More Food’ but what it really is, is ‘Grow More Moslems’.” This suggests the League indeed sought to alter Assam’s demography to ensure its inclusion in Section C.
Analyzing the Conspiracy Claims
The Assam Congress controversy ultimately centers on whether these events constitute a “conspiracy” or represent a fundamental strategic disagreement. Historical evidence suggests the AICC viewed grouping as a temporary, tactical compromise necessary to prevent total Partition of the subcontinent, while the Assam Congress viewed it as an existential threat to the state’s identity.
Historical Verdict on the Controversy
While Modi’s description of friction between Bordoloi and the Congress High Command is supported by historical records, characterizing the Assam Congress controversy as a deliberate “conspiracy” remains a political interpretation. Primary sources suggest Nehru and the AICC were willing to temporarily compromise on Assam’s status to achieve a united central government, representing tactical disagreement rather than a deliberate plot to cede territory to what became East Pakistan.
