They resigned in protest because the British refused to grant independence after the war.
Explanation
Upon the outbreak of the Second World War on September 3, 1939, the Viceroy, Lord Linlithgow, unilaterally declared India a belligerent state against Germany without consulting Indian political leaders or the elected provincial assemblies. This constitutional crisis defined the immediate political response of the Indian National Congress.
Analysis of Options
- They immediately supported the British without any conditions. is Incorrect: The Congress did not offer unconditional support. While the Congress Working Committee (CWC) condemned Nazi aggression, it stated that India could not associate itself with a war said to be for democratic freedom when that very freedom was denied to India.
- They resigned in protest because the British refused to grant independence after the war. is Correct: The Congress demanded a clear statement of war aims from the British government, specifically regarding India's independence. The Viceroy’s statement in October 1939 was unsatisfactory; it merely reiterated the vague promise of dominion status and proposed a consultative committee. Rejecting this, the Congress High Command ordered the Congress ministries in the provinces to resign in protest. The ministries resigned in October and November 1939.
- They formed a coalition government with the Muslim League to support the war effort. is Incorrect: The Congress did not form a coalition with the Muslim League to support the war. Conversely, when the Congress ministries resigned, M.A. Jinnah and the Muslim League celebrated the event as the "Day of Deliverance" on December 22, 1939.
- They launched the Quit India Movement immediately in 1939. is Incorrect: The Quit India Movement was launched in August 1942, following the failure of the Cripps Mission. It was not the immediate response to the outbreak of the war in 1939.
Key Takeaway
The resignation of the Congress ministries in 1939 was a protest against India's involuntary inclusion in World War II and the British refusal to define war aims that included independence for India.