[Letter to Mr Minoo Masani]

Summary

In this letter dated 27 May 1974, Sumatilal P. Shah replies to Minoo Masani about the future of the Swatantra Party. Shah thanks Masani for reading his earlier letter with “great interest and a considerable amount of agreement and sympathy,” and says this response has reassured him.

Shah expresses willingness to make efforts to maintain the party’s identity and existence under Masani’s guidance. He reiterates his request that the party’s leaders not proceed further toward a merger, suggesting that it may not yet be too late to reverse that course, while acknowledging that Masani may have difficulty persuading them.

Key points

• The letter is dated 27 May 1974 and was sent from Poona City.
• Shah responds to Masani’s reply to an earlier letter dated 13 May concerning the Swatantra Party’s future.
• Shah welcomes Masani’s reported agreement and sympathy with his position.
• He offers to help maintain the Swatantra Party’s identity and existence under Masani’s guidance.
• He asks Masani to advise party leaders against proceeding further toward a merger.
• Shah believes that reversing or preventing the merger may still be possible, though he recognises the practical difficulty.