andhi came underway. The Congress ministries had resigned after not being consulted about Indias involvement in the war with Japan, the League was given an opportunity to extend their influence (Qureshi 199). The Congress had not expected the Muslim League to be so strong and had doubted their strength with Muslim politics. In 1942, the Congress was given another chance to rethink their options when the Cripps draft was proposed. The draft said that they could disagree with proposed Indian Union and form their own separate Union. This made it clear that the British were agreeing with the Muslim solution of the Indian problem and, that if it failed there would be a divided India. The Congress still didnt agree with the terms and neither did the Muslims because they believed it represented the Congress alternative to Pakistan. The leaders of the Congress were arrested and put in jail for attempting a rebellion for nearly three years and their organization was outlawed (Qureshi 202). Jinnah used this opportunity to strengthen his cause and raise its prestige. Leaders from the League began to travel and give speeches and new Muslim student organizations were established.On July 27, 1943, Gandhi was ready to start bargaining. He wrote to the Viceroy, Lord Wavell, and said that he was prepared to advise the Congress Working Committee. He stated that he was ready to: renounce mass civil disobedience and to give full co-operation in the war effort, if a declaration of immediate Indian independence were made and a national government responsible to Central Assembly were formed, subject to the provision that during the pendency of the war, military operations should continue as present, but without financial burden on India (Qureshi 207).The British were ready to compromise and give India its freedom, but it couldnt happen until after the war. After receiving this reply many Congress leaders turned to Jinnah, but if they wanted his he...
