Swatantra Newsletter

Summary

This January–February 1964 issue of the Swatantra Newsletter reports on the party’s Third National Convention in Bangalore, held on 1–2 February, and presents the resolutions adopted there. The issue describes the party’s proposed transformation from a mass organisation into an active-members’ party, its electoral successes in Rajasthan, its opposition to the Constitution (17th Amendment) Bill and the continuation of the Emergency, and its call for electoral reform and greater protection of Fundamental Rights. It also records state-level meetings and organising activity in Bombay, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Madras and Punjab.

The convention resolutions articulate a liberal-conservative programme: planning should prioritise basic necessities while leaving most economic activity to competitive enterprise; monopolies, excessive regulation and state control of banking are criticised; and agricultural producers are promised remunerative prices. The issue also takes a strongly anti-Communist and security-oriented position on China, non-alignment and the Sino-Indian border, while reproducing correspondence concerning the Colombo Conference proposals. The final annexures include party membership and subscription amendments, a demand for withdrawal of Gold Control, a statement on redistribution of power to the States, and the text of the Bandaranaike letter.