Letter to Mr Minoo Masani

Summary

A single-page letter from Prof. N. G. Ranga, Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha), written from 44 Western Court, New Delhi, on 23 January 1963 to Minoo Masani in Bombay. Ranga reports on the state of an inter-party manoeuvre in Parliament: friends are trying to persuade the Socialists to withdraw an amendment, so that the Prime Minister will not be able to claim that Parliament refused to censure his acceptance of certain proposals. If the Socialists nonetheless press their amendment to a vote, all the other democratic groups have agreed to abstain, but Ranga proposes to consult his people again the next day and, if they agree, to vote for the amendment in order to accommodate Masani’s strong views. He encloses a copy of his letter to Rajaji for further context.

The second half of the letter shifts to housekeeping. Ranga notes that the Raja of Ramgarh is coming to meet him the next day; he left Delhi on the 11th and so did not receive Ranga’s wire addressed to the Ashoka Hotel. The party gave him tea in the same manner as Dandekar and other leaders of the State Parties had been entertained, with no substantive discussion. Ranga closes by acknowledging Masani’s memo to be presented on behalf of the C.O.C., asking only that on page 3, line 3, item 10, the word “not” be inserted between “have” and “been” — otherwise the statement is alright.

Key points

• Ranga writes to Masani on 23 January 1963 about coordinating opposition tactics in Parliament around a Socialist amendment.
• Friends are lobbying the Socialists to withdraw their amendment so the Prime Minister cannot claim Parliament refused to censure his acceptance of the proposals.
• If the amendment is pressed to a vote, all the other democratic groups have agreed to abstain, but Ranga is willing to reconsult his party and vote for it to accommodate Masani’s strong views.
• Ranga encloses a copy of his letter to Rajaji as further background on the matter.
• The Raja of Ramgarh is expected to meet Ranga the next day; he had left Delhi on the 11th and missed Ranga’s wire at the Ashoka Hotel.
• Ranga’s party entertained the Raja of Ramgarh with tea, on the same footing as Dandekar and other State Party leaders, with no substantive discussion.
• Ranga endorses Masani’s memo for the C.O.C. with a single textual correction — inserting the word “not” between “have” and “been” in item 10 on page 3.