Churchill wanted to let Gandhi die in jail

British PM Winston Churchill favoured letting Mahatma Gandhi die if the Indian leader went on strike while interned during World War II.

Published on: Jan 1, 2006, 18:51:00 IST

PTI | By Anonymous, London

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British Prime Minister Winston Churchill favoured letting Mahatma Gandhi die if the Indian leader went on strike while interned during World War II.

Britain was unwilling to allow Gandhi to campaign against the war and the British government while India was under threat of invasion by the Japanese.

Gandhi was held in the Aga Khan's palace in August 1942 after speaking out against India's involvement in the fight against Nazi Germany and demanding civil disobedience.

After much discussion, ministers decided in January 1943 that although they could not publicly give in to a hunger strike, they would be willing to release Gandhi on compassionate grounds if he seemed likely to die.

Churchill retorted: "I would keep him there (in prison) and let him do as he likes."

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