[Letter to Mr Minoo Masani]

Summary

This letter, dated 16 May 1968 and sent from Mangalore by J. M. Lobo Prabhu to Minoo Masani, is a sharply worded intervention in a dispute within the Swatantra Party. Prabhu argues that Masani’s demand for “ethical and disciplined functioning” risks publicly suggesting that the Party is worse than its opponents, and he criticises Masani’s treatment of Ranga and Dandekar as implying a monopoly on rectitude. He further describes Masani’s claim to supersede the National Executive and the Gujarat State Unit in deciding disciplinary action as undemocratic and undisciplined.

Key points

• Prabhu warns that public criticism of the Party’s internal conduct could be exploited by political opponents during elections.
• He objects to Masani’s allegedly superior or “holier than thou” attitude toward colleagues involved in the Gujarat Party decision.
• He argues that disciplinary decisions taken unanimously by the Party’s recognised bodies deserve respect, regardless of an individual member’s importance.
• He criticises the failure to consult Gujarat State Unit members before asking them to vote for an outside candidate.
• In the copy letter to Raju, Prabhu attributes the Party’s poor parliamentary performance to weak guidance, pro-business rhetoric, poorly assigned speeches, and the absence of a common orientation on major issues.
• He recommends directing legislative speeches toward a mass base and says clear guidance from Party leadership would have substantial effects on both the Party and the public.