<P> At midnight on New Year's Eve, President Jawaharlal Nehru hoisted the tricolour flag of India upon the banks of the Ravi in Lahore, which later became part of Pakistan . A pledge of independence was read out, which included a readiness to withhold taxes . The massive gathering of public attending the ceremony were asked if they agreed with it, and the vast majority of people were witnessed to raise their hands in approval . One hundred seventy two Indian members of central and provincial legislatures resigned in support of the resolution and in accordance with Indian public sentiment . </P> <P> The Declaration of Independence was officially promulgated on 26 January 1930 . Gandhi and other Indian leaders would immediately begin the planning of a massive national non-violence would encourage the common people not to attack Britishers even if they attacked them . Subsequently, the Salt Satyagraha was initiated by Mahatma Gandhi on 12 March 1930 and what followed gave impetus to the Indian independence movement and sparked off the nationwide Non Cooperation Movement . </P> <P> There is some dispute as to who drafted the text of the declaration . Gandhi directly claimed authorship in 1940, while other sources either cite Nehru as a major editor or attribute it to Nehru outright . </P> <P> The Congress regularly observed 26 January as the Independence Day of India--commemorating those who campaigned for Indian independence . In 1947, the British agreed to transfer power and political finesse to India, and 15 August became the official Independence Day . However, the new Constitution of India, as drafted and approved by the Constituent Assembly, was mandated to take effect on 26 January 1950, to commemorate the 1930 declaration . On that day in 1950, India became a republic . 26 January is now celebrated as Republic Day of India every year . </P>

When did congress demand purna swaraj and why