Q. The immediate reasons for which Siraj-ud-daula laid siege to Calcutta in 1756:
1. Fortification of the city by East India Company without Nawab’s permission.
2. East India Company gave protection to his fugitive subject in their fort.
3. East India Company ran a trade in Dastaks and permits
4. A section of the ruling class had gravitated to the English East India Company
Choose the code for correct statements:
(a) Only 1
(b) 1 and 2
(c) 3 and 4
(d) All of them
Ans: (d) All of them
Explanation: The correct answer is (d) All of them.
All four statements are correct:
1. Fortification of the city by the East India Company without the Nawab’s permission. This action by the East India Company was seen as a challenge to the authority of the Nawab of Bengal.
2. The East India Company gave protection to Siraj-ud-daula’s fugitive subject in their fort. This angered the Nawab and added to his grievances against the Company.
3. The East India Company ran a trade in Dastaks (passes) and permits. This trade allowed the Company to bypass the local customs duties and regulations, which undermined the Nawab’s control over revenue collection.
4. A section of the ruling class had gravitated to the English East India Company. The growing influence and power of the East India Company in Bengal attracted some members of the local ruling class, which further strained the relationship between the Nawab and the Company.