MINUTES OF MEETING

Summary

These two pages record the proceedings of the Swatantra Party’s Parliamentary Executive Committee meeting held at Shri C. C. Desai’s residence on 12 November 1967. The members observed silence over the deaths of Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia and G. D. Patil, discussed the political crisis in West Bengal and cyclonic damage in Orissa, and adopted positions on the Maharashtra–Mysore border dispute and proposed language legislation. The minutes show the party combining parliamentary opposition to Communist and government policy with appeals for public relief and rehabilitation.

Key points

• The Executive Committee met on 12 November 1967 with ten MPs present, including N. G. Ranga, M. R. Masani, N. Dandekar, C. C. Desai, and K. P. Singh Deo.
• The party condemned the Union Government’s handling of Communist sabotage and disorder in West Bengal, while opposing an adjournment motion introduced by Communist parties.
• The committee criticised inadequate government assistance after cyclone damage in Orissa and decided to appeal to the public for relief donations.
• Members were given freedom to express their views on the Maharashtra–Mysore border dispute; N. Dandekar was assigned to study the Ma####arashtra Commission Report and report back to the party.
• The party supported incorporating Jawaharlal Nehru’s assurance in the proposed Languages Bill but approved the Office Languages Bill without committing itself to its provisions.
• The minutes assign MPs to speak or serve on select committees concerning monopolies, patents, taxation, excise, immigrant labour, displaced-persons rehabilitation, education, and the Hazari Committee Report.
• The party scheduled elections to its Executive Committee for 22 November 1967 and authorised C. C. Desai and Dahayabhai Patel to operate the Parliamentary Party’s account.