Who raised the cry "Divide and Quit"?

Question

Who raised the cry "Divide and Quit"?

1. A. M.A. Ansari
2. B. M.A. Jinnah (Correct answer)
3. C. Jawaharlal Nehru
4. D. Muhammad Iqbal

Correct Answer

Option B — M.A. Jinnah

Detailed Solution & Explanation

The correct answer is M.A. Jinnah.

Key Points

• The slogan "Divide and Quit" was raised by Muhammad Ali Jinnah and the All India Muslim League in 1947.
• It was a deliberate counter to the Congress demand of "Quit India" (1942), asserting that the British must partition the country before leaving rather than transfer power to a united India.
• The slogan crystallised the League's two-nation theory, formally adopted in the Lahore Resolution of 1940 (also called the Pakistan Resolution), which demanded separate states for Muslim-majority regions.
• Jinnah had also called for Direct Action Day on 16 August 1946, which led to the Great Calcutta Killings.
• Partition was ultimately effected through the Mountbatten Plan of 3 June 1947 and given legal form by the Indian Independence Act, 1947, with boundaries drawn by the Radcliffe Line.

Exam Tip

• match slogans to leaders — "Do or Die" (Gandhi), "Jai Hind" (Bose), "Swaraj is my birthright" (Tilak) and "Divide and Quit" (Jinnah).

प्रश्न (हिन्दी में)

किसने "बाँटो और छोड़ो" के नारे को बुलन्द किया था?

1. A. एम. ए. अंसारी
2. B. एम. ए. जिन्नाह
3. C. जवाहरलाल नेहरू
4. D. मुहम्मद इकबाल