Minutes of the Meeting

Summary

These two pages record the Swatantra Party Executive Committee meeting held on June 21, 1967, at Parliament House in New Delhi. The committee discussed the party’s response to Communist China’s recent hydrogen-bomb explosion and supported seeking a nuclear shield or guarantee from friendly countries, on the grounds that manufacturing an atomic weapon was not economically feasible and that the country lacked military capability to maintain one. It also decided to move a motion concerning the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Bill and to oppose the proposed Select Committee on Nath Pai’s Fundamental Rights Bill.

Key points

• The Executive Committee met with Prof. N. G. Ranga in the chair and J. M. Lobo Prabhu acting as secretary.
• The party supported seeking a nuclear shield or guarantee from friendly countries after Communist China’s hydrogen-bomb explosion.
• The committee decided to seek reference of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Bill to a Select Committee and circulate its views publicly.
• The party opposed joining a Select Committee on Nath Pai’s Fundamental Rights Bill and planned to oppose either its reference or passage.
• The minutes record changes in designated speakers for parliamentary grant demands.
• The party opposed any government move to continue the National Emergency.
• The committee approved a resolution concerning the reopening of the Suez Canal and instituted weekly Executive meetings after the House rose.