Britain and France joined together to placate Hitler.

The Government of India immediately joined the war without consulting the National Congress or the elected members of the central legislature. While Congress was in full sympathy with the victims of fascist aggression, and was willing to help the forces of democracy in their struggle against fascism. So congress demanded freedom to participate actively in the struggle.

The British government refused to accept this demand and tried to pit the religious minorities and princes against the Congress. The Congress therefore asked its ministers to resign.. In October, 1940 Gandhi gave the call for a limited Satyagraha.

Vinoba Bhave was the first to offer Satyagraha. By 15 May 1941, more than 25,000 Satyagrahis had been jailed. In the East, Japan was growing and occupied Rangoon in March 1942 and was moving towards India and the spectre of Japanese conquest began to haunt the people and their leaders.

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In the mean time British Government desperately wanted the active cooperation of Indians in the war effort. To secure this cooperation it sent to India in March 1942 a mission headed by a Cabinet Minister, Sir Stafford Cripps, who was earlier the strong supporter of Indian National Movement.

Even though Cripps declared that the aim of British Policy in India was “the earliest possible realization of self government in India”, detailed negotiations between him and the Congress leaders broke down. The British government refused to accept the Congress demand for the immediate transfer of effective power to Indians.

The failure of Cripps Mission embittered the people of India. The period from April to August 1942 was one of the daily heightening tensions, with Gandhiji becoming more and more militant as Japanese forces moved towards India.

The congress now decided to take active steps of compel the British to accept the Indian demand for independence. The All India Congress Committee met at Bombay on 8 August 1942. It passed a famous ‘Quit India’ Resolution and proposed the starting of a non­violent mass struggle under Gandhiji’s leadership to achieve this aim. Addressing the Congress delegates on the night of 8 August he delivered a fiery speech and gave a slogan, “Do or Die”.