Tamluk (West Bengal), Jan 18 : Mahatma Gandhi once wept when some freedom fighters told him that after seeing a victim of mass rape, they deviated from non-violence against the British, President Pranab Mukherjee said at an event Friday.

The president said this while unveiling statues of freedom fighters Ajoy Mukherjee, Satish Chandra Samanta and Sushil Kumar Dhara, who were instrumental in forming a Tamralipta National Government -- a parallel government during the 1942 'Quit India' movement -- here in East Midnapore district.

"After the 1942 movement, Gandhi-ji received a complaint that those who formed the Tamralipta National Government in Tamluk could not be fully non-violent and had to resort to violence at times," said Mukherjee.

"Gandhi-ji had immense faith in Ajoy-da and Satish-da. He thought this was not possible but those who had made the complaint were respected Congress leaders. So Gandhi-ji thought of conducting an inquiry.

"Some people suggested Ajoy-da should lie to Gandhi-ji. But Sushil-da said: 'No. I have to tell everything to him. That is why we had to resort to violence and then whatever punishment he decides will be acceptable'," Mukherjee said.

"Satish-da then told Gandhi-ji that they could bear everything but not mass rapes, which broke all their forbearance and compelled some to resort to violence.

"After confirming about the rapes from the women, Gandhi-ji came back to them with moist eyes and said: "Satish, I cannot blame you. But I would have been happier had the incidents not happened'. Such personalities where they," he said.(IANS)