Split in Congress (Surat Session, 1907)

Split in Congress (Surat Session, 1907)
The emergence of the Extremists put the Moderates in trouble. In 1905, two Extremists in Banaras Session of Indian National Congress opposed the move of the Moderates for welcoming the Prince of Wales who had to visit India.
In 1906, in the Calcutta Session, the bitterness was whitewashed outwardly when Dadabhai Naoroji was called back from London to preside over the session. The Extremists were able to pass resolution concerning Swadeshi, boycott, Swaraj and national education.
However, the language of the resolution was ambiguous and both the sides interpreted them in their favour. In 1907 at Surat Congress, the split became inevitable. When the Extremists wanted to endorse the resolutions of Calcutta Session in clear-cut terms, the Moderates opposed it tooth and nail. When Tikal came to deliver his speech, physical assault took place between the two groups and police intervened in the matter in restoring normalcy. The Extremists were stamped out from the Congress.

Soon, the Extremist movement became weak. In 1908 Tikal was imprisoned at Mandalay. Eurobond left politics and so also Begin Chandra Pal. Lala.Lajpat Rai left the country. However, the Extremists gave a new direction to the Indian politics. The British Government took immediate step to pacify the situation.