RESOLUTIONS PASSED AT THE GENERAL COUNCIL MEETING OF THE SWATANTRA PARTY HELD AT VITHALBHAI PATEL HOUSE, NEW DELHI, ON JUNE 9/10, 1974

Summary

This one-page office record sets out three resolutions adopted by the Swatantra Party General Council at Vithalbhai Patel House, New Delhi, on June 9/10, 1974. The first endorses efforts to unite various parties into a “National Alternative,” while insisting that the Swatantra Party’s final decision must be taken at a National Convention after members have examined the proposed programme. The Council also authorises the Party President to arrange the convention at the earliest opportunity.

The second resolution congratulates Jayaprakash Narayan and the students of Bihar for their “courageous non-violent struggle,” presenting the failure to provoke the movement into violence as evidence of its strength and as a warning to the ruling Congress. The third calls on the Haryana Government to investigate the arrest of Swatantra Party Joint Secretary Ramander Kalia, arguing that the circumstances suggest a possible political vendetta.

Key points

• The Swatantra Party General Council discussed cooperation among opposition parties to create a National Alternative.
• The Council treated a National Convention as necessary for the Swatantra Party’s final decision on the proposed alliance and programme.
• The draft programme was to be circulated to members of all State Councils for study and review.
• The Party President was authorised to fix the date and venue of the National Convention.
• The Council congratulated Jayaprakash Narayan and Bihar’s student community on a non-violent political struggle.
• The resolution characterised the movement’s non-violence as a warning to the ruling Congress.
• The Council demanded prompt inquiries into the arrest of Swatantra Party Joint Secretary Ramander Kalia in Haryana.