RESOLUTIONS PASSED AT THE NATIONAL EXECUTIVE MEETING OF THE SWATANTRA PARTY HELD IN NEW DELHI ON APRIL THE 6TH & 7TH, 1974

Summary

This two-page set records resolutions adopted at the Swatantra Party’s National Executive Meeting in New Delhi on 6–7 April 1974. The visible resolutions present India as facing a severe political and economic crisis, marked by rising prices, unemployment, corruption, shortages, social injustice, and the government’s alleged failure to respond. They also accuse the ruling Congress of weakening democratic accountability through restrictions on protest, electoral malpractice, concentration of propaganda resources, and manipulation of voting procedures. The document links the student movements in Gujarat and Bihar to popular anger and to the perceived closure of legitimate democratic channels.

The economic-recovery resolution rejects existing economic policies and calls for a drastic restructuring centred on commercial performance in the public sector, lower direct and indirect taxation, deregulation, a floating rupee, investment in rural infrastructure and agricultural viability, and a more meaningful, job-oriented, science- and technology-based education system. The final visible resolution supports the youth movements in Gujarat and Bihar, praising their opposition to corruption and rising prices and specifically approving Jayaprakash Narayan’s leadership. Resolution 2 is not visible in the supplied pages.

Key points

• The resolutions describe India as facing a combined political, economic, and social crisis.
• The document attributes rising prices, unemployment, shortages, corruption, and injustice to faulty government policies.
• It alleges that electoral malpractice and restrictions on protest have deprived citizens of effective democratic remedies.
• The Gujarat and Bihar student movements are presented as expressions of popular anger and political emancipation.
• Economic recovery is said to require public-sector accountability, tax reduction, deregulation, and currency reform.
• The programme prioritises rural infrastructure, agricultural viability, and rural electrification.
• Education should become more meaningful, employment-oriented, and grounded in science and technology.
• The Swatantra Party expresses solidarity with the Gujarat and Bihar movements and endorses Jayaprakash Narayan’s leadership.