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Why did Gandhi and the Indian National Congress reject the Cripps Offer?
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Indian Independence Movement
In August 1947 British rule ended on the Indian subcontinent.
In 1942, the British government sent Stafford Cripps to India to propose the "Cripps Offer," which promised dominion status and increased autonomy to India following the conclusion of World War II.
Mahatma Gandhi and the Indian National Congress rejected this proposal for several key reasons:
- Opposition to Partition: The offer included an "opt-out" clause that allowed provinces to choose not to join a united India. Gandhi and the Congress party vehemently opposed this provision, as they feared it would lead to the partition of the country.1
- Lack of Immediate Independence: The offer required Indian politicians to cooperate with the colonial government for the duration of the war, deferring full self-governance until afterward. Gandhi famously dismissed the proposal as "a post-dated cheque on a bank that was failing," reflecting his lack of faith in British promises and his desire for immediate independence.1
- Distrust of British Intentions: The failure of the mission deepened the divide between the Congress and the British government. Many leaders felt that Britain did not take their demands for sovereignty seriously, which ultimately strengthened the resolve of the independence movement and led to the Quit India Movement.12