[Letter to Mr Minoo Masani]

Summary

A one-page typed letter from Harihar Patel, an advocate of the Orissa High Court based in Cuttack, addressed to Minoo Masani on 3 October 1979. Patel writes that he and friends in Bhubaneswar had seen a news item reporting that Atal Bihari Vajpayee planned to approach intellectuals and eminent jurists to persuade them to contest the ensuing election on a Janata Party ticket. On their own initiative they wrote to Vajpayee suggesting that Masani himself be approached.

Patel reports that Vajpayee appreciated the suggestion and said Masani’s contesting would be a matter of pride for the country and the party; Vajpayee’s reply, in Hindi, is enclosed with this covering note. Patel presses Masani to take a decision to stand, and closes with an apology in case the unsolicited suggestion has caused offence.

Key points

• Letter dated 3 October 1979 from Harihar Patel, Advocate at the Orissa High Court, Cuttack, to Minoo Masani at 148 Mahatma Gandhi Road, Bombay-23.
• Patel cites a recent news item that Atal Bihari Vajpayee was planning to approach intellectuals and eminent jurists to persuade them to contest the coming election on a Janata Party ticket.
• Patel and friends at Bhubaneswar wrote to Vajpayee proposing that Masani be one of those approached.
• Vajpayee replied (in Hindi, enclosed with the letter) welcoming the suggestion and saying Masani’s candidature would be a matter of pride for the country and the party.
• Patel urges Masani to take a decision to contest and apologises in advance if the intervention has annoyed him.