81 years after ‘Quit India’, Tushar Gandhi detained by Mumbai Police on way to commemorate day

Mumbai: Exactly 81 years after Mahatma Gandhi was targeted by the British Police on Quit India Day, (August 9, 1942), his great-grandson Tushar A. Gandhi was detained at Mumbai’s Santa Cruz Police Station today as he left to commemorate the day.

Around dawn, as Tushar prepared to go to the historic August Kranti Maidan in south Mumbai to pay homage to the Martyrs of the Quit India Movement, he was stopped by the Santacruz Police right outside his home.

"As I was leaving to commemorate August Kranti Day, the Santacruz Police Station stopped and detained me, citing 'law and order'… I am currently at the Santacruz Police Station," Tushar Gandhi told IANS.

This is the first time ever in his life that Tushar Gandhi has been subjected to such an action by the police who waited outside his house, since late last night.

“For the first time in the history of Independent India, I have been detained at Santa Cruz Police Station as I left home to commemorate 9th August Quit India Day. I am proud My Great Grandparents Bapu and Ba had also been arrested by the British Police on the historic date,” he wrote on Twitter.

He said that he was not served any advance notice like some other Gandhians and organisations planning to go to August Kranti Maidan today to mark the Quit India Day, nor has he been slapped with any charges.

"I am just made to sit here… They are treating me very cordially… Apparently, it's under the orders of the Commissioner of Police… As soon as I am allowed to leave, I shall definitely commemorate August Kranti Day and its Martyrs," declared Tushar Gandhi.

Reacting to the news, Congress media wing chairman Pawan Khera wrote on Twitter, “Quit India has been replaced with Quiet India.”

This morning, the revamped August Kranti Maidan was the venue for a new campaign 'Meri Maati, Mera Desh' with Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy CMs Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar, and others, with tight security and traffic restrictions in the vicinity.

Quit India Day marks the anniversary of a civilian uprising that took place on August 9, 1942, which is considered one of the final phases of the struggle for independence. On this day, scores of Indians led by Mahatma Gandhi, took to the streets, agitating against the British rule driven by his call of “Die or Die”.

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