With reference to the British colonial rule in India, consider the following statements: [2019]

With reference to the British colonial rule in India, consider the following statements:

Mahatma Gandhi was instrumental in the abolition of the system of ‘indentured labour’.
In Lord Chelmsford’s ‘War Conference’, Mahatma Gandhi did not support the resolution on recruiting Indians for World War.
Consequent upon the breaking of Salt Law by Indian people, the Indian National Congress was declared illegal by the colonial rulers.

In 1833, the British Parliament banned slavery, and the practice became illegal throughout the Empire. However, to maintain the supply of labour in their territories, colonial authorities effectively replaced slavery with the indentured labour system. The ‘indenture’ (meaning ‘contract’) system required Indians to sign a legal agreement consenting to move abroad for a minimum of five years to work mainly on sugar estates. The system of indentured labour was abolished by the government following sustained public agitation and pressure from leaders such as Mahatma Gandhi and Manilal Doctor. The system was officially banned in 1917.

During World War I, Viceroy Chelmsford invited Gandhi to Delhi at a War Conference. The Viceroy was keen that Gandhi should support the resolution on recruiting Indians for World War. Gandhi spoke only one sentence: ‘With a full sense of my responsibility, I beg to support the resolution.’

Following the violation of the Salt Law by the Indian people, the colonial rulers declared the Indian National Congress illegal.

Mahatma Gandhi initially supported British war efforts to secure political concessions for Indians. Therefore, it is unlikely that he opposed recruitment at Lord Chelmsford’s War Conference. Hence, Statement 2 can be eliminated, leaving option (b) as the correct answer.