[Letter to K M Munshi]

Summary

This confidential letter, dated 20 March 1963 from Patna, reports on Janki Nandan Singh’s efforts to organise a District Himalaya Bachao Conference on behalf of Bihar’s opposition parties, including the Swatantra Party, Jan Sangh, PSP and the Socialist Party. Singh describes the conference at Laheriasarai, inaugurated by General K. M. Cariappa and attended by more than a lakh people, as well as a subsequent sub-divisional conference inaugurated by Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia. He also notes that messages from C. Rajagopalachari, Minoo Masani and K. M. Munshi were read at the gathering.

Key points

• The letter describes opposition-party mobilisation around the District Himalaya Bachao Conference in Bihar.
• Singh reports that the 24 February 1963 conference at Laheriasarai drew more than a lakh attendees.
• A follow-up sub-divisional conference was held on 3 March 1963 and inaugurated by Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia.
• The writer expresses concern about organisational disunity and the limited participation of the Bihar opposition leader, Rajbahadur, in the Legislative Assembly.
• Singh urges K. M. Munshi, Minoo Masani and other high-command members to visit Bihar and prevent the Swatantra Party’s disintegration.
• The letter also seeks Munshi’s intervention in recovering a pick-up van from Rajbahadur so that Singh can pay the vehicle taxes to the treasury.