Liaquat Ali Khan
Topic: Framing the Indian Constitution · NCERT: Class 12, Ch 4 "Framing the Constitution"
Meaning
Liaquat Ali Khan was a top Muslim League leader and Jinnah's closest deputy. The Interim Government (the temporary Indian government) was formed under Nehru on 2 September 1946, and the League joined it later in 1946. Liaquat became its Finance Member, which means he was in charge of money and taxes. Meanwhile the League boycotted the Constituent Assembly and demanded Pakistan. After Partition he became the first Prime Minister of Pakistan.
Example
In early 1947, as Finance Member, Liaquat Ali Khan presented a budget that was called the "poor man's budget". It put heavy taxes on rich businessmen. Many of these businessmen backed the Congress, so the budget deepened the bitterness between the Congress and the League inside the Interim Government.
Don't confuse with
- Muhammad Ali Jinnah: he was the League's supreme leader and became Pakistan's first Governor-General. Liaquat was his deputy and became Pakistan's first Prime Minister.
Related concepts
- Princely states
- Clement Attlee
- Pethick-Lawrence
- Interim Government 1946
- Indian Independence Act 1947
- Tryst with Destiny