MINUTESOF MEETING

Summary

This one-page English office record, dated 18 August 1965, records a meeting of the Swatantra Party Executive Committee held on 17 August in the Party Committee Room, Central Hall, Parliament House. Prof. N. G. Ranga chaired the meeting; eight other members are listed as present, including M. R. Masani, C. L. N. Reddy, Dhyabhaid V. Patel, Maharaj Himat Singhji, Lok Nath Misra, P. N. Solanki, Krishnapal Singh, and N. Dandekar.

The minutes set out the Party’s parliamentary position on several immediate matters. Members were instructed to abstain from voting when the Prime Minister’s motion on Kutch and its amendments came before the House. Speaking assignments were allocated for a no-confidence motion, the Aligarh University Bill, and opposition to Prakash Vir Shastri’s bill concerning a unitary government. On the question of a Punjabi Suba, Akali members were to retain freedom to adopt whatever position they considered appropriate. The meeting ended with a vote of thanks to the chair.

Key points

• The Executive Committee meeting took place on 17 August 1965 at Parliament House and was chaired by Prof. N. G. Ranga.
• The Party decided that its members should abstain from voting on the Prime Minister’s motion on Kutch and amendments to it.
• M. R. Masani and N. Dandekar were selected to speak on the no-confidence motion.
• M. R. Masani was assigned to speak on the Aligarh University Bill and represent the Party on the forthcoming Select Committee for a detailed bill on the subject.
• Prof. N. G. Ranga was selected to oppose Prakash Vir Shastri’s bill regarding a unitary government.
• Akali members were given freedom to determine their own position on the Punjabi Suba question.