Thread by @asadowaisi

Today is “August Kranti Diwas”, the day Gandhiji launched #QuitIndiaMovement in 1942. Yusuf Mehrally coined the slogan “Quit India” that inspired Indians against British. Mehrally went to jail 8 times. Wrote no mercy petitions & never collaborated with the British. #IndiaAt75

British shot Indians who saluted tiranga, arrested at least one lakh Indians, carried out public floggings & levied collective fines

Mehrally & most senior Congress leaders were jailed. At the time, he was Bombay’s mayor. He was the first socialist to be elected to the post

Mehrally would only come out of imprison in 1946.

He reportedly came up with “Quit India” at a meeting of Gandhiji’s associates some time before the launch of the movement. He presented Gandhi with a bow bearing the inscription ‘Quit India’. Gandhi said in approval, ‘Amen’.”

In 1928, he had also coined “Simon Go Back” in protest against the all-British Simon Commission. When the commission arrived at the Bombay port, he & his comrades had dressed up as coolies & then greeted the commission with the slogan

During August 1942, while Meherally was in prison, he was responsible for mobilising his comrades

After his release from prison Mehrally went on to become an MLA in Independent India and founder of the Congress Socialist Party. He died in July 1950, in Mumbai

But what were the “Gurus” & “Veers” of today’s “nationalists” doing during #QuitIndiaMovement? They were crushing the movement, forming governments with Muslim League & collaborating with the British

So while our elders were facing British bullets, prisons & floggings, Hindu Mahasabha & RSS were aiding our enemies

The armed forces of Mysore Raja who was very close to Hindu Mahasabha & RSS shot dead 22 activists for saluting the #tiranga

British allowed their chamchas Hindu Mahasabha & Muslim League to function, while other patriotic organisations were banned. Hindu Mahasabha & Muslim League ran coalition governments in Bengal, Sind & NWFP during this period.

S.P. Mookerjee, Deputy CM of Bengal & Hindu Mahasabha leader took up the responsibility of crushing #QuitIndiaMovement in Bengal

Reports of British govt “praised” RSS for its obedience. “The Sangh...has refrained from taking part in disturbances that broke out in August 1942”