It was a reform plan put forward by Jinnah himself to protect the political rights of Muslims in a self-governing India. Jinnah produced these 14 points in response to Nehru report. Jinnah wanted to get more rights for muslims. the 14 points covered all the interests of muslims at that time. he really wished and thought that these points will be accepted by Congress, but it got rejected by them and hence Jinnah called it ‘parting of the ways’. the report was given in a meeting of the council of all India Muslim league on march 28 1929 in Delhi.

Reasons to produce 14 points.

Q. why did Jinnah produce his 14 points. (7)

As an answer to Nehru report in which Muslims interests were rejected: In Nehru report, congress condemned separate electorates for muslims and 1/3 representation for muslims, which they had initially accepted in 1916’s lucknow pact. It was felt by muslims that this was seriously wrong for congress to reject separate electorates, as a result Jinnah produced 14 points to answer Nehru report.

to safeguard political rights of muslims in India: Jinnahs aim was to get more rights for muslims, which he thought were ignored in Nehru report and Simon commission as well. hence he gave his 14 points that covered all the interests of Muslims, the aim was that in any future constitution, for which simon commission gave its report and Nehru gave his report, Jinnahs 14 points will be considered for muslims.

no organised set of demands: jinnah realised Muslims had no proper set of demands. hence his 14 points would serve as the official demands of Muslims in any future negotiations with either congress or british.

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JINNAHS 14 POINTS LISTED:

1. The form of the future constitution should be federal, with the residuary powers vested in the provinces.
2. A uniform measure of autonomy shall be granted to all provinces.
3. All legislatures in the country and other elected bodies shall be constituted on the definite principle of adequate and effective representation of minorities in every province without reducing the majority in any province to a minority of even equity.
4. In the Central Legislature council, Muslim representation shall not be less than one-third
5. Representation of communal groups shall continue to be by separate electorates: provided that it shall be open to any community, at any time, to abandon its separate electorate in favour of a joint electorate.
6. Any territorial distribution that might at any time be necessary shall not in any way affect the Muslim majority in Punjab, Bengal, and NWFP provinces.
7. Full religious liberty, including belief, worship, observance, propaganda, association, and education, should be guaranteed to all communities.
8. One-third representation shall be given to Muslims in both central and provincial cabinets.
9. No bill or resolution shall be passed in any legislature if three-fourths of the members of any community in that body oppose the bill.
10. **Sindh should be separated from Bombay to a province.**
11. Reforms should be introduced in the NWFP and Balochistan on the same footings as in the other provinces.
12. Muslims should be given an adequate share in all services, having due regard to the requirement of efficiency.