Consider the following statements with respect to the Quit India Movement.

1. CWC meeting at Wardha accepted the idea of Quit India Movement.

2. AICC meeting at Gowalia Tank, Bombay ratified the Quit India Resolution.

3. Fear of British following a scorched earth policy against Assam, Bengal and Orissa against possible Japanese invasion is one of the causes of the movement.

4. Gandhi was named as the leader of the movement.

Which of the above given statements are correct?

Solution

· Statement 1 is correct: The Cripps mission was a failure and Stafford Cripps returned home leaving behind a frustrated and embittered Indian people. After the departure of Cripps, Gandhi framed a resolution calling for British withdrawal and starting of a non-violent and non-cooperation movement. The Congress Working Committee meeting at Wardha (July 14th, 1942) accepted the idea. · Statement 2 is correct: The Quit India Resolution was ratified in the AICC Meeting at Gowalia Tank, Bombay (8th August, 1942). The meeting resolved to, 1. Demand an immediate end to British rule in India. 2. Declare commitment of free India to defend itself against all types of Facism and Imperialism. 3. Form a provisional Government of India after British withdrawal. 4. Sanction a civil disobedience movement against British rule. 5. Gandhi was named as the leader of the struggle. Hence statement 4 is correct. · Statement 3 is correctly mentioned: The reasons were several for the Quit India movement. Failure of the Cripps mission to solve the constitutional deadlock exposed Britain’s unchanged attitude on constitutional advance. There was popular discontent because of rising prices and shortage of rice, salt etc. There were fears of Britain following a scorched earth policy in Assam, Bengal and Orissa against possible Japanese invasion. News of reverses suffered by the British in south east Asia and an imminent British collapse enhanced popular willingness to give expression to discontent. The manner in which British evacuated from south east Asia i.e. leaving people to tier fate shattered the prestige and exposed the racist tendencies of British. The leadership wanted to condition the masses for a possible Japanese invasion.