⁣⁣The Prince of Wales was to visit India in January 1921 to inaugurate the new legislatures under the Mont-Ford Amendment, but due to health issues, his uncle, the Duke of Connaught (Prince Arthur, son of Empress Victoria), was sent to India to replace him. ⁣⁣
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The non-cooperation movement was active in India at that time. Therefore, as per the resolution of the Nagpur Convention, the General Assembly declared the people to oppose Duke’s visit to India through strikes, rallies and processions. As a result, the government landed him at the port of Madras instead of Mumbai on January 10, 1921. ⁣⁣
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There was a strong strike and a meeting of about 50,000 people was organized to protest against his visit. ⁣⁣
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Duke inaugurated the new Legislative Assembly of Bengal on February 1, 1921. On that day Large rallies and processions were held in protest of the visit at calcutta. There was a complete strike in the city and in other parts of Bengal. ⁣⁣
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Inaugurating the Central Legislative Assembly on February 8 and Rajya Sabha of India on February 9 in Delhi, Duke lamented the events in Amritsar (Jallianwala Bagh massacre) and appealed to the people of India to forget the past and embrace reform. But even in Delhi, he had to face a massive backlash. ⁣⁣
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In a letter to Duke of Connaught, Gandhi praised him as an English gentleman and said that he and the people of India had nothing to say against him or the British personally. But he also made it clear that this is his battle against British government. ⁣⁣
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Thus, the non-cooperation movement took a wider form with the visit of Duke.⁣⁣