Second Round Table conference :

Gandhiji went to England in September 1931 to attend the Second Round Table conference. But in spite of his powerful advocacy, the British government refused to concede to the basic nationalist demand for freedom on the basis of the immediate grant of Dominion Status.

In December 1931, the Congress started a no-rent, no-tax, campaign. On his return to India, Gandhiji had no choice but to resume the Civil Disobedience Movement. The Government, now headed by the new Viceroy Lord Willingdon, who believed that a major error had been made in signing a truce with the Congress, was this time fully determined and prepared to crush the Congress. The government’s response was to arrest Jawaharlal Nehru on December 26, who was on his way to Bombay to meet Gandhiji.

On January 4, 1932, Gandhiji and other leaders of the Congress were again arrested and the Congress declared illegal. This was followed by the arrest of Dr. Rajendra Prasad. Now the government was openly out to crush the rebellion. But it was wrong in its estimation of enthusiasm of the people.