Swatantra Newsletter

Summary

Swatantra Newsletter No. 60, issued by the Central Office of the Swatantra Party in Bombay in July 1966, presents the party’s case against Congress rule across economic policy, electoral strategy, foreign affairs, federalism, and state administration. Its lead discussion of devaluation attributes the rupee’s loss of value to inflationary policies, excessive spending, over-borrowing, and planning priorities, and calls for fiscal restraint, deregulation, reduced taxation, and a reconsideration of the Fourth Plan. The issue also reports Swatantra’s preparations for the next general elections and its proposed electoral adjustments with several opposition parties, while insisting on a policy of defeating Congress without entering into alliances with Communist parties.

The remaining pages combine political advocacy with regional reporting. They cover support for an autonomous Assam Hill State, agricultural and tenancy resolutions in Mysore, the party’s campaign in Gujarat, criticism of government handling of the Bastar killings and the Orissa drought, proposals for an autonomous railway corporation, and opposition to nuclear weapons. The newsletter also defends American bombing in Vietnam as connected to India’s security, reports party organisation and election activity across several states, and concludes with a General Secretary’s argument for “double rejection”: replacing Congress while refusing cooperation with either Communist party.