RESOLUTIONS PASSED AT THE GENERAL COUNCIL MEETING OF THE SWATANTRA PARTY HELD AT VITHALBHAI PATEL HOUSE, NEW DELHI, ON JUNE 9/10, 1974:

Summary

This four-page set records resolutions adopted by the Swatantra Party General Council at Vithalbhai Patel House, New Delhi, on 9–10 June 1974. The Council supports efforts to create a National Alternative to the ruling Congress but insists that any final decision for the Swatantra Party must be taken at a National Convention. It calls for circulation of the proposed draft programme to State Councils and authorises the President to arrange the Convention at the earliest opportunity.

The resolutions endorse Jayaprakash Narayan’s non-violent struggle in Bihar and interpret the movement as a warning to the Congress government to provide “clean and honest administration.” They also protest the arrest of Ramander Kalia, the Swatantra Party’s joint secretary in Haryana, calling for an inquiry into what they suggest may be a political vendetta. A further resolution rejects dissolving the Swatantra Party into a new opposition party, arguing instead for a common platform or National Democratic Front in which democratic parties retain their identities while working together on a minimum programme.

Key points

• The General Council supports creating a National Alternative through cooperation among opposition parties.
• It requires the Swatantra Party’s final decision on participation to be made by a National Convention.
• The proposed programme is to be circulated to State Councils for review of its merits and shortcomings.
• The Council congratulates Jayaprakash Narayan and Bihar’s student community for a non-violent struggle against injustice.
• The resolutions criticise the Congress government for failing to provide clean and honest administration.
• The Council protests Ramander Kalia’s arrest in Haryana and calls for prompt inquiry.
• The Party rejects dissolution into a new party and proposes a National Democratic Front based on a minimum common programme.