[Letter to Mr Minoo Masani]

Summary

This one-page letter, dated 24 August 1964 and signed by A.P. Jain of the Swatantra Party Parliamentary Office, is addressed to M.R. Masani. Jain forwards a copy of Prof. Ranga’s letter to the Speaker, a list of Swatantra Party Lok Sabha members and office-bearers, and a bill for Ranga’s travel between Bombay, Udaipur, and Delhi.

The letter’s substantive concern is the opposition’s response to a no-confidence motion. Jain reports that A.K. Gopalan, on behalf of the Communist group in Parliament, has tabled a motion criticizing the government’s failure to contain rising prices and meet food requirements. He notes that the SSP, Independents, and Jan Sangh are considering a separate motion, and argues that the Swatantra Party must decide whether to join a joint opposition motion: abstention, he cautions, could effectively amount to expressing confidence in the ruling party.

Key points

• A.P. Jain writes to M.R. Masani from the Swatantra Party Parliamentary Office on 24 August 1964.
• The letter encloses correspondence from Prof. Ranga addressed to the Speaker, a list of Lok Sabha members and office-bearers, and a travel-expense bill.
• The enclosed bill concerns Prof. Ranga’s trip between Bombay, Udaipur, and Delhi.
• A.K. Gopalan has tabled a no-confidence motion on rising prices and food requirements.
• The SSP, Independents, and Jan Sangh are considering tabling another no-confidence motion.
• Jain urges the party to determine its position in relation to a possible joint opposition motion.
• The letter argues that declining to support the democratic opposition could be interpreted as confidence in the ruling party.