General Secretary's Letter to M.P.s No. 14

Summary

Dated 16 October 1967, this letter from N. Dandekar, Acting General Secretary of the Swatantra Party, conveys guidance approved by the party’s Central Parliamentary Board for the forthcoming parliamentary session. It opposes extending the Reserve Bank of India’s powers over banking, rejects nationalisation of general insurance, and asks the party’s parliamentary group to scrutinise the Monopolies Bill while opposing monopolistic practices in both the state and private sectors.

Key points

• The Central Parliamentary Board reviewed party performance and anticipated issues for the next parliamentary session.
• The party considered existing Reserve Bank of India powers sufficient for social control over credit policy and banking management.
• Members were instructed to oppose further banking controls that could interfere with the autonomous working of commercial banks.
• The Board condemned the proposed nationalisation of general insurance.
• The party opposed monopolies and monopolistic practices in both the state and private sectors.
• The letter supports university autonomy and freedom to determine the medium of instruction.
• It argues that parents should choose the language taught to their children and should not be restricted by neighbourhood-school policies.