Which were the two types of demands mentioned by Gandhi in his letter to Viceroy Irwin on 31 January 1930? Why was the abolition of ‘salt tax’ the most stirring demand? Explain.
Among the demands made by Gandhi in his letter to Viceroy Irwin, some of the demands were general in nature, whereas others were of interest to specific sections such as industrialists and peasants. The demand for the abolition of salt tax was the most important because it was a problem faced by Indians of all socioeconomic classes. Salt was and remains a product of daily consumption. Because it is naturally available in nature, the tax imposed on it was considered an injustice done to Indians. Gandhi’s letter gave the Government an ultimatum for accepting his demands, failing which he threatened to launch a Civil Disobedience Campaign.
