While Calcutta was the scene of an unprecedented holocaust, Nehru was busy with the Viceroy about the Interim Government. Maulana Abul Kalam Azad mournfully observed that the turn of events made it clear that a peaceful solution was impossible, and he expressed with deepest regret on noticing the responsibility of Jawaharlal Nehru in such a situation though he was one of his dearest friends.
On 17 August , after the great killing that begun , but not ended, he submitted his proposals to the Viceroy , and after discussion for a week the personnel of the Interim Governement was announced on 24 Aug, 1946, in the following communique,
His Majesty has been plased to appoint the following;
Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, Mr. M. Asaf Ali, Mr. C. Rajagopal Achari, Mr. Sarat Chandra Bose, Dr.John Mathai, Sardar Baldev Singh, Sir Shafaat Ahmed Khan, Mr. Jagjivan Ram, Syed Ali Jaheer, and Covesji Hormusji Bhabha. two more Muslim members will be inducted later.
Ina broadcast on the same day, the Viceroy made an earnest - almost pathetic- appeal to the Muslim League to join the Government.
Shortly after this annoncement of the Interim Government, Lord Wavell, the Viceroy , visited Calcutta and with horror he saw the remnants of the incidents that took place on 16 Aug, 1946.
After returning from Calcutta Wavell met Gandhi and Nehru on 27 Aug 1946and gave them an account what happened in Calcutta.
The firm attitude of the British Cabinet evidently made some impression on Jinnah, for on
13 Oct the Muslim League agreed to join the Interim Government and Jinnah sent the names of 5 nominees of the Muslim League. As Liaquat Ali Khan described that it was not a coalition Govt nor a Govt with joint responsibility, it consisted of two blocs Congress blocs and Muslim League bloc. Liaquat Ali, the leader of Muslim group, in the Cabinet held the finance portfolio.
The communal disturbances were spread not only in Bengal but throughout In India. Actions and reactions were continued . no regular enquiry was made . A rough official estimate revealed that ,
5,000 lives were dead, 15,000 were injured, 1,00,000 rendered homeless, 20,000 women were raped or maimed.
