Which operation was launched by the Britishers during the August Movement?

The correct answer is Operation Zero Hour.

Key Points

• Quit India Movement is also known as August Movement.
• Quit India Movement was launched at the Bombay session of the All-India Congress Committee by Mahatma Gandhi on 8 August 1942.
• It was officially launched by the Indian National Congress (INC) led by Mahatma Gandhi on 9 August 1942.
• The movement gave the slogans ‘Quit India’ and  Gandhiji gave the slogan to the people – ‘Do or die’. 
• It was a peaceful non-violent movement aimed at urging the British to grant India independence.
• The demands of INC were:
  • An immediate end to British rule over India.
  • Declaration of the commitment of free India to defend itself against all kinds of imperialism and fascism.
  • Formation of a provisional government of India after British withdrawal.
  • Sanctioning a civil disobedience movement against British rule.
• Operation Zero Hour was started by the British Government to arrest the leaders of the Quit India Movement.

Additional Information

• Causes for the Quit India Movement:
  • The British assumption of unconditional support from India to the British in World War II was not taken well by the Indian National Congress.
  • The immediate cause for the movement was the collapse of the Cripps Mission.
  • The Second World War had started in 1939 and Japan, which was part of the Axis Powers that were opposed to the British in the war were gaining onto the north-eastern frontiers of India.
  • Gandhiji believed that if the British left India, Japan would not have enough reason to invade India..