Singh Deo lashes out at Masani

Summary

This Times of India News Service report from Bhubaneswar records R. N. Singh Deo’s attack on M. R. Masani over the Swatantra Party’s treatment of its Orissa unit and its relationship with the Utkal Congress. Singh Deo argues that the central leadership should allow the Orissa organisation to state its own position rather than pressuring it to conform to the all-India party line, and he criticises its alleged sympathy for the Nandini Satpathy government.

Singh Deo also challenges Masani’s criticism of an inquiry commission involving Biju Patnaik and Biren Mitra, noting that a special judge discharged both men and that Patnaik was subsequently elected from Rajnagar with a large majority. He concludes by defending the Orissa unit’s continued constitutional association with the Orissa Pragati Party and the Utkal Congress. The clipping is an attributed news report, not a signed article; no individual reporter is named.

Key points

• R. N. Singh Deo criticises the Swatantra Party’s central leadership for its treatment of the Orissa unit.
• He says the Orissa organisation should be able to express its own point of view rather than simply follow the all-India party.
• Singh Deo disputes M. R. Masani’s criticism of the Orissa unit’s association with the Utkal Congress.
• He invokes the discharge of Biju Patnaik and Biren Mitra by a special judge in challenging allegations connected with an inquiry commission.
• He argues that Patnaik’s subsequent election victory from Rajnagar further supports his position.
• The report says the Orissa unit will retain its constitutional links with the Orissa Pragati Party and the Utkal Congress.