Mahatma Gandhi found in salt a powerful symbol that could unite the nation. (i) Salt was consumed by all classes of people, by the rich and poor alike. It was one of the most essential items of food. (ii) The tax on salt and the government monopoly over its production, revealed the most oppressive face of British rule. (iii) Abolition of salt tax could affect the British economically as salt tax and monopoly over its production provided a large revenue to the government.