Which Act opposed by Mahatma Gandhi in 1919 was a direct attack on the civil liberties and democratic rights of the Indian people?

Key Points

• The Rowlatt Act was enacted in 1919 by the British government to curb the growing nationalist upsurge in India.
• This Act authorized the government to imprison any person suspected of terrorism without trial for up to two years.
• It also allowed the government to search any place and arrest any person without a warrant.
• The Act was seen as a direct attack on the civil liberties and democratic rights of the Indian people, leading to widespread protests.

Additional Information

• Mahatma Gandhi strongly opposed the Rowlatt Act and initiated a nationwide protest against it, which is known as the Rowlatt Satyagraha.
• The protests against the Rowlatt Act led to the tragic event of the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre in April 1919.
• The Act was officially known as the Anarchical and Revolutionary Crimes Act of 1919.
• The widespread opposition to the Rowlatt Act marked a significant moment in India's struggle for independence.