Read the following excerpts and answer the Questions that follow:

That is very good, sir-hold words, noble words”

Somnath Lahiri said:

Well, sir, I must congratulate Pandit Nehru for the fine experessioon he gave to the spirit of the Indian peopel when he said that no imposition from the British will be accepted by the Indian people. Imposition would be resented and objected to, he said, and he added that if need be we will walk the valley of struggle. That is very good, sir-bold words, noble words.

But the points is to see when and how are you going to apply that challenge. Well, sir, the point is that the imposition is here right now. Not only has the British Plan made any future

Constitution.....dependent on a treaty satisfactory to the Britishers but it suggests that for every little difference you willhave to run to the Federal Court or dance attendance there in England ; or to call on the British Prime Minister Clement Attlee or someone else. Not only is it a fact that this Constituent Assembly, whatever pains we may be hatching, we are under the shadow of British guns, British Army, their economic and financial stranglehold-which means that the final power is still in the British hands and the question of power has not yet been finally decided, which means the future is not yet completely in our hands. Not only that, but the statements made the by Attle and othes recently have made it clear that if need be, they will even threaten you with division entirely. This means, Sir, there no freedom in this country. As Sardar Vallbh Bhai Patel put it some days ago, we have freedom only to fight among ourselves. That is only freedom we have not.... Therefore, our humble suggestion is that it is not a question of getting something by working out this Plan but to declare independence here and now and call upon the Interim Government, call upon the people of India, to stop fratricidal warfare and look out against its enemy, which sill has the whip hand, the British Imperialism– and go together to fight it and then resolve our claims afterwards when we will be free.

(i) Why did Somnath Lahir congratulate Pandit Nehru? Explain.

(ii) Explain the intentions of the British is not framing the Constitution before hand. What did they want?

(iii) Explain the views of Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel on the issue.