[Letter to Ratibhai Ukhaabhai Patel]

Summary

In this letter dated 30 March 1958, M. R. Masani asks Ratibhai Ukabhai Patel to ensure that Babubhai Vaidya responds to charges being raised against him before the Party’s National Executive meets. Masani says he will not attend personally to contest the accusations because he has resigned from the Party Executive, and asks that Vaidya’s letter be placed before the meeting.

Masani also asks that the newspaper Jai Hind report his resignation accurately and publish an editorial supporting clean politics in Saurashtra and Gujarat. He proposes that the Yuvraj of Wankaner and Patel, as President and General Secretary of the Party, write to N. Dandekar expressing concern about the Rajkot Swatantra Party’s conduct and its effect on the Party’s prestige in Saurashtra. The letter closes by suggesting that Masani’s resignation may help mitigate the damage to the Party’s image and uphold its honour.

Key points

• Masani reports that he has sent Babubhai Vaidya a telegram and wants Vaidya’s reply placed before the Party’s National Executive.
• He describes the charges against Vaidya as attempts by his opponents to obscure the issue.
• Masani asks Jai Hind to report his resignation and support clean politics in Saurashtra and Gujarat.
• He proposes a letter from the Yuvraj of Wankaner and Ratibhai Patel to N. Dandekar concerning the Rajkot Swatantra Party.
• The proposed letter would criticize the Party’s conduct, its legislators’ actions, and the resulting damage to the Party’s prestige.
• Masani suggests that his resignation could help mitigate damage to the Party’s image and uphold its honour.