Q. Consider the following statements with reference to the Justice Party:
1. The Justice Party opposed Congress by calling it a Brahmin dominated organisation.
2. It claimed the same communal representation for non-Brahmins as the Morley-Minto reforms had given to Muslims.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
a) Both 1 and 2
b) Neither 1 nor 2
c) Only 1
d) Only 2
Question from UPPSC Prelims 2024
Correct Answer: a) Both 1 and 2
Explanation:
The Justice Party was a political organization in the Madras Presidency during the early 20th century. It played a significant role in the social and political history of South India, particularly in opposing Brahmin dominance in politics and administration.
1. Statement 1: The Justice Party opposed Congress by calling it a Brahmin dominated organisation.
– This statement is correct. The Justice Party was formed primarily by non-Brahmin elites who felt that the Indian National Congress was dominated by Brahmins and did not adequately represent the interests of non-Brahmins. The party sought to challenge the social and political dominance of Brahmins in the Madras Presidency.
2. Statement 2: It claimed the same communal representation for non-Brahmins as the Morley-Minto reforms had given to Muslims.
– This statement is also correct. The Justice Party demanded communal representation for non-Brahmins in government services and legislative bodies, similar to the separate electorates and communal representation granted to Muslims under the Morley-Minto reforms of 1909. This demand was part of their broader agenda to secure political and social rights for non-Brahmins.
Thus, both statements are correct, and the correct answer is a) Both 1 and 2.
