Correct Option (B)
The Quit India Movement was initiated by Mahatma Gandhi with the 'Do or Die' call on August 8, 1942. However, he and other prominent Congress leaders were arrested almost immediately on August 9, 1942. Consequently, the movement lacked centralized leadership from Mahatma Gandhi or the Congress Working Committee throughout its duration. It evolved into a spontaneous, decentralized mass uprising driven by local activists, students, and the general populace. Therefore, the observation that it was 'led by Mahatma Gandhi' (implying continuous, direct leadership) is not accurate.
Incorrect Options:
Option (A): It was a non-violent movement. While the movement witnessed instances of violence, sabotage, and clashes with authorities, Mahatma Gandhi's call was fundamentally for non-violent civil disobedience. The Congress leadership, when free, consistently advocated non-violence. The violence that occurred was largely a reaction to severe government repression and the absence of top leadership to guide disciplined non-violent action. Thus, the underlying principle and initial directive were non-violent.
Option (C): It was a spontaneous movement. Following the immediate arrest of all major leaders, the movement spread rapidly across the country without any pre-planned, centralized direction. It was largely a spontaneous outburst of public anger and determination, making this observation true.
Option (D): It did not attract the labour class in general. While some localized strikes occurred, the overall participation of the organized labour class in the Quit India Movement was not as widespread or significant as other sections of society. Factors such as wartime production demands, government repression, and existing economic benefits for workers contributed to their limited involvement. This observation is largely accurate.