The political and social milieu of India was in turmoil following the formation of the Simon Commission for drawing up a constitution for India and the subsequent rejection of the Nehru Report. Gandhi requested the Viceroy, Lord Irwin, to mellow his stance in dealing with the constitutional crisis. On March 2nd 1930, Gandhi wrote a letter to the Viceroy wherein he highlighted an 11 point Charter of Demands. This included a considerable reduction in the Pound-Sterling-Rupee exchange rate, curtailing of military budget, a fifty percent reduction in land revenue, preservation of indigenous textile machinery, abolition of Salt Tax and releasing political prisoners. The British government did not react favorably to any of the propositions made by the Congress. The political segment of the country took no time to realize that the British government would not relent to any kind of persuasions. Anti British sentiments flared up as never before and the launch of a civil disobedience movement became inevitable. On February 15th, the Congress Working committee gave the authority to Gandhi and his followers to initiate the civil disobedience. The first step in this direction was the Dandi March.