man of the masses Charaii

MAN OF THE MASSES

CHAUDHRY CHARAN SINGH FIRST PEASANT PRIME MINISTER OF INDIA

By R. K. H ooda Published by Cbaudhry Hari Ram and Sons Books and Newspaper Publisher Hooda House, F 43, East of Kailash New Delhi-110049

Fisrt Published 1979

© R. K. Hooda

Price Rs. 60.00

Cover Designer Dilip Chowdhury Associates New Delhi-110001

Printed at Tara Art Press B-4, Hans Bhawan B.S. Zafar Marg New Delhi-110002 To My revered father Chaudhry Hari Ram CHAUDHRY CHARAN SINGH’S PARENTS

Chaudhry M ir Singh with his wife Mrs. Netri Devi The President of India Mr. N. S. Reddy is administering the oath o f office of Prime Minister to Chaudhry Charan Singh on July 28, 1979. Chaudhry Charan Singh, the Prime Minister of India in his office in south block. Standing behind him are Steel Minister Mr. Biju Patnalk, Foreign Minister Mr. S.N. MIshra and Mr. Raj Naraln. The Prime Minister Mr. Desat called on the then Home Minuter Mr. Charan Singh on May 29, 1979. Chaudhry Charan Singh, Mrs Indira Gandhi, Mrs. Chpran Singh and Chaudhry Devi Lai at Chaudhry's residence to celeberate the birth of grand son. CONTENTS

Acknowledgement (W) Preface (vii) Introduction (yiti) 1 An Assessment 1 2 Personalia 5 3 From Noorpur to New Delhi10 4 As the Press Knew Him 14 5 Charan Singh’s Economic and Political Thoughts24 6 Kisan Power 29

7 The Rationale of a Revolt by Charan Singh37 8 First Peasant Prime Minister of India 41 9 The Ordeal 51 10 The Dawn of a New Era 56 11 Face to Face with Charan Singh 60 12 Rural Reality 69 13 The First Broadcast to the Nation 71 14 Charan Singh’s Speech on the Independence Day 74 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I am grateful and indebted to the following persons who inspired and helped me in bringing out this biography of Chaudhry Charan Singh. Without their help and active cooperation I was not in a position to bring out this volume within short period of one month. Chaudhry Ram Sanehi Hooda, Shri Govind ji, Mr. Raj Gill, Mr. R. P. Puri and Mr. F. C. Puri. I am particularly thankful to my printer Mr. S. N. Tara, Mrs. & Mr. Dilip Chowdhury who took lot of pains in the production and printing of this book. Lastly I must mention here that my wife and my daughters Deepshikha, Nidhi and Prerna were a constant source of inspiration and encouragement to me in the completion of my long cherished desire of bringing out this book.

Radha Krishan Hooda

(v i) PREFACE

The Fall of the Desai Government and the emergence of the rural power spearhead by Chaudhry Charan Singh in July 1979 was such a momentous political event that only the posterity will be able to assess its significance. It will not be an exaggeration if one puts its as the second mile stone in the political history of India, the first having the independence. Chaudhry Charan Singh’s ascendancy to the office of the Prime Ministership will stand in history as an eloquent testimony to two facts, that is, that the rural power in TnHia can no more be contained or treated as a casual factor in the political fabric of the country and that the democratic values still prevail over political ambitions. Chaudhry Charan Singh’s emergence to incontestable pre-eminance in India’s public life has been a fairly extraordinary phenomenon. Few political analyists and commentators imagined that after Morarji Desai’s exit Chaudhry Charan Singh will take Over as Prime Minister of India. During the month of July political developments took sudden and swift dramatic turns. Charan Singh’s BLD group revolted against Morarji Desai Government and caused the downfall of 28 months old Janata Government. Desai resigned and decided to take political sanyas and Chaudhry Charan Singh was sworn in as the 5th Prime Minister of Republic of India on July 28, 1979. It was then that a sudden need for a comprehensive and authentic account on the life of Chaudhry Charan Singh was felt. That is why this book. As a journalist I came in contact with the Chaudhry in 1967 when he became the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh. I have since then been closely watching his slow but steady progress. During this continued acquaintance of over a decade I have travelled with him extensively covering his day-to-day activities, including his election campaign. Friends, journalists and politicians have been suggesting me all along to write a biography of Chaudhry Charan Singh. It is this suggestion of theirs I am trying to fulfill. I feel today a sense of achievement in completing a delayed task. Chaudhry Charan Singh has been a controversial political personality, he had to struggle relentlessly during his chequered career which is full of ups and downs. Although this book is small and volumes and volumes can be written on the life and achievements of Chaudhry Charan Singh, I have tried my best to present all the important events in his life and the historic role played from time to time. This book, I hope, will help the people who are keen to know and understand his political thought, his works and performance during his hectic political career spread over a span of over SO years. New Dehli R. K. Hooda August 15, 1979. (vii) INTRODUCTION A GLIMPSE OF CHAUDHRY CHARAN SINGH’S LIFE

At once a peasant; at once a patriot. The Prime Minister, Chaudhry Charan Singh, is much more than a mere politician. He is one of the builders of independent India. Cast in the mould of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the Chaudhry first fought for the independence of the country and later to safeguard the same. Those who know little about the background of the new leadership at the Centre should note that Chaudhry Charan Singh has not suddenly emerged, as if from nowhere, to be a great leader. The peasant in him as the Vice Chairman of the Janata Party straightway declared “I support Morarjibhai” at the helm. That is how the other contenders for the post of Prime Minister were pushed to the background and Mr Desai emerged victorious and Chaudhry became the king maker in March 1977. Chaudhry Charan Singh, who was second in command in the Moraiji Ministry, is an uncrowned king of the Indian peasantry. Though for long Uttar Pradesh remained the field of his political activity today the horizons of his field-work have widened and whole of the country demands his attention. He was born in a poor peasant family in the village of Noorpur in Hapur tehsil of Meerut district in Uttar Pradesh on December 23, 1902. His father, Chaudhry Mir Singh, then lived in a mud hut (chhappar). For his primary education Chaudhry Charan Singh was sent to school in a nearby village. Afterwards he moved to Meerut, where he passed his matriculation examination from the Government High School. To move up in the academic ladder he had to shift to Agra, where he did his B. Sc. from the Agra College. It is here that he passed his M.A. in History. Finally, he qualified LL.M. in 1925. As he became a lawyer he began practice in Ghaziabad and got married to Gayatri Devi, an educated Jat girl of village Garhi Kundal in Rohtak district of Haryana. Mrs. Gayatri Devi takes active interest in politics and twice she was elected MLA to U.P. assembly from Aligarh and Mathura constituencies respectively. She played a significant role in making the Chaudhry what he is today. As a life partner she advised her husbahd at crucial moments. I know two occassions when Gayatri ji influenced Chaudhry Charan Singh in taking right decision at right time. Firstly when Chaudhry resigned from the Congress in 1965 and secondly when he rejoined the Desai Government as senior Deputy Prime Minister with finance as portfolio. Mrs. Gayatri Devi is not only the Chaudhry’s devoted wife but she is providing a great helping hand to the Prime Minister to discharge his duties. She also takes care of his health and also meet people who call on the Prime Minister when he does not find time to meet all of them owing to his very busy schedule. ( viii) INTRODUCTION Chaudhry Charan Singh went to jail four times. He first courted arrest in Salt Satyagrah in 1932. In 1940 he joined the “non-cooperation movement” and was arrested in 1942 he was again jailed for joining the “Quit India Movement”. Came the emergency of 197S and he was detained under “MISA” by Mrs Indira Gandhi’s Government and was lodged in Tehar jail for about a year. Chaudhry Charan Singh became twice Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, the largest state of India, first by revolting against the central leadership of the Congress party in 1967 and again in 1969 when he formed a Ministry of Bharatiya Kranti Dal, with the support of Mrs. Gandhi. He was elected to U.P. Legislative Assembly as early as 1937 from his home constituency Chhiprauli and since then he has been consistently contesting the same seat in every general election. Paul Brass, an American author, wrote in his book, “Faction Politics in Indian States” that Chaudhry Charan Singh currently Agriculture Minister in U.P. Government has dominated the District Congress and district Politics since the early forties and successfully resisted serious challenges to his leadership during his long rule. “Chaudhry Sahib” as he is reverentially called by his followers, has been an unusually successful faction leader in U.P. politics. Inspired less by desire for power than by an invincible belief in the rightness of his actions and policies Charan Singh seeks neither friends nor favours and gives no quarter to those who oppose him. A look at the elements of Charan Singh’s power will throw more light on the requirements for factional leadership and political influence in contemporary U.P. Politics. “Charan Singh is not exactly an intellectual in politics, but he is well-read man with an incisive intelligence, which he has devoted to a continuing study of agricultural problems in U.P. Charan Singh is the leading ideologist in U.P. of the Peasant-proprietor. As a prominent member of the U.P. Zamindari Abolition Committee, he worked hard to ensure that the Zamindari Abolition Act would contain no loopholes, which would permit the continued domination of Zamindar’s in the rural economy of the state and to make certain that landlordism may not raise its ugly head again. In his most recent publication ‘Joint Forming X-Rayed’ the problems and its solution, Charan Singh has opposed partly on technical grounds, but also because of his belief in the values of peasant-proprietorship—in the new Government policy of fostering Co-operative Farming.” Chaudhry Charan Singh is convinced that it is the peasants who are the sources of Indian industrial workers, it is the peasants who constitute the main market for Indian industry, it is the peasants who are the main sources of Indian Army, so the peasantry is the biggest political force in India, but so far the Indian peasantry has been exploited by a handpicked shrewd urban clique which has been ruling India since indepence. Unless the farmers, who constitute 80 per cent of India’s population come at the helm of affairs, India cannot progress”. Chaudhry Charan Singh assured the people of India in his election speeches that if Janata Party, of which he was the Vice Chairman, was voted to power, it would give “an (ix ) INTRODUCTION honest and efficient administration”. It would take ruthless measures against all pnblic servants found guilty of corruption, inefficiency or discrimination. He said “I would like public servants to be well paid and trusted.” As for as corruption among politicians, Mr. Charan Singh says, “like sacrifies, corruption also starts at the top and percolates down. It then corrupts the whole society. Unless there is high degree of personal integrity at the top in public life, corruption in administration cannot be stamped out. The party, therefore, will adopt special procedures and established special agencies which will take automatic legal notice of complaints and institute inquiries into charges of corruption against all non-officials, who may be placed in positions of responsibility, particularly ministers and legislators”. Chaudhry Charan Singh is undoubtedly a man of iron-will and strong likes and dislikes. He promised through the manifesto of Janata Party that he would give bread, liberty and clean administration to the people of India; and the people in return reposed full faith in him by giving a thumping majority to Janata Party in the recent elections and routed the ruling Congress. Mr. Charan Singh seems impatient and is serious and sincere to root out corruption in the country. Chaudhry Charan Singh with his clean past and a clear vision is looking for the day, when India will be known as a clean society. He jacularly says, “My dream or aim is not marxist, nor maoist but Indian and therefore Gandhian.

( x ) Chaudhry Charan Singh with the delegates of the British House of Commons Select Committee, led by Mr. Mcnamara in New Delhi on February8, 1979.

Prime Minister Chaudhry Charon Singh with the Author Mr. R. K. Hooda 1

AN ASSESSMENT

MINENT men who have left an indelible degree of reputation and command great E mark in the annals of history generally following among the people. Truly, have been the most controversial persons ofhe can be called Man of the Masses who is their times. Socrates, Galileo, Marx and in immensely loved and respected by the very recent times Mahatma Gandhi had people living in rural India. become the butt of criticism by their adversaries, like gold which becomes more It is by no means an easy task to and more precious with every beating it gets,attempt an reassessment of a person with controversies and criticism have moulded whom one is closely associated. Personal these men into perfect souls. Criticism by prejudices and predilections are bound to their detractors is more an indication of cast their shadows. One is likely to be their inner strength and growing popularityaccused of exaggerating certain aspects or rather than reflection of their tending to ignore the most important unacceptability to the society. Judged byaspects of a person’s character due to the these standards Chaudhry Charan Singh, close proximity. But an honest attempt is the new Prime Minister of India, is among not bad. the most controversial leaders in the country today. His detractors would like Chaudhry Charan Singh is perhaps the to find fault with him for everything he most misrepresented, misunderstood and does good for lasting. Yet even his critics misinterpreted leader today. To his would admit that he is among the very few innumerable admirers, he is a great leader : leaders in the country who enjoy a high honest, straight-forward, simple, sincere, 1 full of compassion and good humour. leaders But ditched and deserted him. I asked to those who have not bad the opportunitythe Chaudhry once that his choice of of personal contact with him and have persons was very poor as many of them formed a picture based on newspaper after gaining political benefits left him and reports or hearsay he is a parochial personthus proved disloyal to him. The Chaudhry who never forgives and forgets his enemies. said : “I consider my colleagues, co-workers, He is also being accused as a person of partymen and associates as sincere, faithful vindictive nature. Chaudhry Charan Singh’sand loyal; if they desert me to achieve their political opponents and critics also try to selfish ends I cannot help it. I have been tarnish his image by calling him anti- ditched, and deserted by several persons Harijan, casteist and woman hater. during my political career of 50 years. However, one thing on which everybodyThere is a great scarcity of good, loyal and agrees is that Chaudhry Charan Singh is a faithful persons in today’s politics.” man of integrity and incorruptible. Any person who comes into contact with him Critics of Chaudhry Charan Singh have and gets an opportunity of knowing him described him as a Jat leader and a regional intimately soon revises the opinion and joinsleader even though it has been proved the band of his admirers. beyond doubt that his following is drawn from practical by all sections of the society Chaudhry Charan Singh is not a man and his influence extends to most states of born great nor was greatness thrust on him. the country. In fact his close associates are He has acquired the highest office of Prime drawn mostly from other communities than Ministership of this country by dint of hardhis own. In spite of the fact that his work, sustained struggle and sincere efforts. following extends to all classes and castes In achieving his objectives he never and the vast majority of them belong to the compromised on principles. To him both economically weaker and socially backward the ends and means are equally sacrosanct: sections, his critics prefer to brand him as a neither of them can be sacrificed for the kulak leader. This perhaps is a reflection sake of either. Influenced by the teachings of the fear complex from which his of Swami Dayanand Saraswati and adversaries suffer. Mahatma Gandhi, Chaudhry Charan Singh has acquired the qualities of tolerance and Chaudhry Charan Singh’s commitment commitment to principles. While he would is to the principles and not individuals. be ruthless in defending a just cause and Even at the time he joined the political upholding principles he can never become movement in the early twenties he was vindictive. In his entire political career of influenced by the teachings of Swami more than 50 years there has never been a Dayanand and Mahatma Gandhi. He has single instance of his taking recourse to had an opportunity of learning a lot from vendetta even against those who have the teachings of his mentors which also caused harm to him. During his long included Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel whom he political career Chaudhry Charan Singh considered his friend, philosopher and guide. tried to build several leaders in U.P., The sitting and study room of Chaudhry Haryana, Bihar, Gujarat, Delhi, Rajasthan, Charan Singh is decorated with big portraits MP, Punjab and in other parts of the of the Swamy, Mahatma and Sardar who country. After achieving high political have influenced greatly the New Prime offices from the Chaudhry, several so-calledMinister of India Chaudhry Charan Singh. 2 In his political career he has always rejoin it in early 1979 as the senior Deputy endeavoured to uphold principles and has Prime Minister. Finally after a brief spell always opposed individual worship. He in that position. On July 28, 1979 the exhorts his innumerable admirers to pursueChaudhry was sworn in as first Prime the politics of principles and not of Minister from rural India. individuals. Those close to him know well how very unhappy he was when the idea From a small Vakil in Ghaziabad was mooted to celebrate his birthday. But Chaudhry Charan Singh proved to the he could not disappoint his innumerable world that a son of a poor farmer can also followers who wanted to utilise the occasionbecome Prime Minister of this country. to ventilate the grievances of the Kisans This is considered to be the great who are the backbone of the country. In achievement of historic importance in the fact he has been urging his supporters to political history of India. celebrate the Kisan Day on a day other than his birthday. He has suggested that Chaudhry Charan Singh’s has been a October 30, the birthday of Sardar Patel, steady progress. When he moved from the symbol of Indian peasantry would be Ghaziabad, a tehsil of Meerut district the most appropriate date for the Kisan headquarters he carried with him his Day. following in the tehsil. When he shifted to Lucknow, the state capital of U.P. in Chaudhry Charan Singh takes success 1940 he again took with him the entire mass and defeat in the same stride. It is his firm following not only in the district, but of conviction that Truth ultimately prevailsthe region which he acquired during his and hence temporary setbacks do not years of service in the area. It is this demoralise him. Power has never lured following that has sustained him in politics Chaudhry Charan Singh. He has not in fair and foul weather. This is clearly hesitated to give up office whenever he borne out by the fact that when Chaudhry realised that the principles were at stake. Charan Singh left the Congress in 1967 he Chaudhry Charan Singh is known as one could carry with him only 16 MLAs. But politician in the country who keeps his when a mid-term poll was held in 1969 his resignation in his pocket. His resignation party secured 99 seats. Again in 1974 as senior Deputy Prime Minister from the elections his party secured 106 seats. The Desai Government was his 12th resignation Lok Sabha elections of March 1977 during his 50 years of political career. decisively proved the following Chaudhry Charan Singh commanded in the whole of As a result of his firm conviction, hard north India. work, sincere efforts ceaseless struggle Chaudhry Charan Singh achieved his long- Born in a kisan family Chaudhry cherished ambition of becoming Prime Charan Singh strongly advocates the cause Minister of India. The Chaudhry after the of the peasants. He believes that a healthy 1977 election came on the National scene and strong peasantry is of primary with a bang and in quick succession went importance to the development of an on rising the political ladder causing agricultural country like India. At the surprise after surprise to his rivals. In same time he has great compassion for the 1977 he became Home Minister and after poor and down-trodden in the urban areas sometime left the Desai Government to as well. It is his conviction that unless 3 the villages are developed and the poorest Charan Singh turned to find the cure for in the village is provided the opportunitythe to same. He soon came to the conclusion play his role in the activities of the nation that the creation of a national alternative India’s economic development would capable of taking over from the Congress remain a myth. He favours the full was the only solution to India's ills. It is utilisation of the irrigable land in the towards the fulfilment of this programme country. As a person wedded to Gandbian that he decided in 1967 to break away from principles Chaudhry Charan Singh favoursthe Congress with which he has had more agro-based industries. But he is not than four decades of connection. It was a opposed to big industry. He feels that the painful decision, but the future if the big industries should play a role nation was of greater importance than complementary to the farming sector. sentiment. His adversaries did not hesitate Chaudhry Charan Singh is essentially to denounce him for this. But time proved a man of the masses. He has an uncanny that Chaudhry Charan Singh had taken knack of judging the mood of the masses the right decision. Like a true kisan who and taking his decisions. He keeps his eyes can smell the weather Chaudhry Charan and ears open and listens to what others have Singh smells the people’s sentiments long to say. He is a man of very few words andbefore others can do so. whenever he speaks he does so meaningfully and with firm conviction. Chaudhry It is Chaudhry Charan Singh’s era. For Charan Singh was able to sense the people’s the first time a fanner’s son has taken over disenchantment with the Congress when destinies of the nation. The people have the other leaders did not have the faintest high hopes in him. It is yet to be seen how idea of the things to come. Having the new Prime Minister shapes the future of correctly diagnosed the ills Chaudhry this great country.

4

Mre. and Chaudhry Charan Singh ara aean with fire,Indira Gandhi at a grandaon birthday party boated by the Chaudhrye on Danuary 1979. ■mm

New Delhi on May 19,. ting Ki 2

PERSONALIA Early Life & Family History

HAUDHRY Cbaran Singh was not bom few of his followers and settled in Sihi with the proverbial silver spoon in hisvillage, near Ballabgarh, in 1705. Murtaza Cmouth. On the contrary his parents belongedKhan, the Moghul resident in Faridabad, to a modest agriculturist family. His fatherwho had come to know him, assigned him Chaudhry Mir Singh was so poor a farmerthe work of collecting revenue in the that he could not even build himself a housedivision. Gopal Singh was to get a He lived in a hutCHHAPAR ( ). It was not commission of one anna per rupee. After that his ancestors had always lived in Gopal Singh’s death, his nephew Charan poverty. The hands of destiny had pushedDass took over this job. But he was a man them into a life of struggle. They of a saintly disposition who devoted most of belonged to the Tewatia ruling clan of his time to prayer and distributed whatever Ballabgarh, now a developing industrial he collected among the poor and needy town in Haryana, near Faridabad. The people of the area. Since he failed to Tewatias were known for their heroic deposite the revenue in the treasury he was exploits and were in the forefront of the taken prisoner by the Moghul ruler. struggle for the emancipation of the countryHowever, his son Balram Singh tactfully got from foreign rule. Raja Nahar Singh, him released and took refuge under the founder of the Tewatia kingdom was Maharaja Suraj Mai of Bharatpur. among the leaders who fought the first war ofMaharaja Suraj Mai exercised his influence independence in 1857. with Murtaza Khan and secured for Balram Singh the five villages of Sihi, Bhuj, Gopal Singh Tewatia had come with a Mujahadi and Mirzapur. 5 Within a short time Balram Singh As a result of the hard labour put in by the became a powerful chieftain of the area and Chaudhry family, the land started yielding started expanding his territory. He attacked profits. The high productivity of the land Faridabad and seized 11 villages. He attracted several offers for its purchase. The defeated the chieftain of Pali and annexed landlord was lured by them and decided to another 21 villages. He also successfullysell it. The Chaudhry family did not have launched assaults on the rulers of the required money to buy the land. Hence Secunderabad and Palwal and annexed into it had to face eviction and look for fresh his kingdom 88 villages belonging to the shelter. It was during its stay in Noorpur former and 98 villages belonging to the that a baby boy was born in Chaudhry Mir latter. Thus within a short period Balram Singh’s family on December 23, 1902. The Singh became die ruler of 223 villages and boy was named Charan Singh by the happy declared himself the Maharaja of Ballabgarh. and proud parents.' He built the fort of Ballabgarh which even today stands testimony to the heroic Charan Singh was just six years old exploits of its builders. when the family faced eviction from the land it had cultivated for more than a Raja Nahar Singh, a decendant of decade. Chaudhry Mir Singh set out in Balram Singh, was the most prominent ruler search of a new piece of land and was of Ballabgarh. He was among those who successful in securing a plot in Bhoopgarhi took part in India’s first war of in Meerut district itself. He shifted to independence against the British in 18S7. Bhoopgarhi with his family and his brothers However, Nahar Singh was killed by the settled down in the nearby Bhadaula village. British in a deceitful manner. The British After his 14 year’s stay in Bhoopgarhi also resolved to massacre the kith and kin Chaudhry Mir Singh decided to leave the of the Ballabgarh rulers. Many relatives ofvillage for good to rejoin his brothers in the royal family had to flee from BallabgarhBhadaula village. and seek shelter in distant places. Among those who survived the onslaught was Chaudhry Mir Singh and his four Badam Singh, grandfather of Chaudhry brothers, Lakhpat Singh, Boota Singh, Charan Singh. Gopal Singh and Raghbir Singh, were a closeknit family and were very affectionate Badam Singh and his relatives fled to towards each other. The five brothers had the east and settled in Bhatanna village in 15 children. The twenty members of the Bulandshahr district. The family lived in Chaudhry family loved and respected each Bhatanna for several years. Badam Singh other. Lakhpat Singh, the eldest of the had five children; the eldest son was brothers, immensely liked his nephew Lakhpat Singh and the youngest Mir Charan Singh and did not favour the idea Singh. Towards the turn of the twentieth of living separately from him. It was at century Chaudhry Mir Singh decided to his insistence that Mir Singh decided to seek his fortune elsewhere. He moved shift from Bhoopgarhi to Bhadaula. Only to Noorpur village in Meerut district towards the early twenties could the family along with his family members. He was acquire some economic stability. In the only 18 years of age at that time. He year following the World War of 1914-18 a managed to secure a piece of agricultural period of recession had set in the country. land under a share cropping arrangement. Prices of all commodities, particularly 6 agricultural produce, crashed. It was in After completing his Intermediate such circumstances that a plot of a few examination Charan Singh had once again acres of land was put up on sale. to face uncertainty. His father whose means Agricultural land was sought after by the of livelihood were limited and who had the Chaudhry family. But the cost of the land,responsibility of bringing up four other Rs. 21000, was beyond its means. However, children could not afford to send Charan by an agreement with the seller the Singh for higher studies. Charan Singh, Chaudhry family paid Rs. 7000 in cash—all aware of the family’s circumstances, gave up the money it could mobilise—and mortgagedthe idea of further studies. But fate had the land to its former owner till such time ordained something different for him. His as the remaining amount was paid. Having uncle Lakpat Singh who had an immense acquired the land the family put up huts onliking for him, was much pained to know it and worked hard to improve its yield. As that the boy was-being asked to discontinue a result of its hard labour and frugal habits his education for reasons of financial the family was able to pay the debt in a difficulties. He had a firm conviction that short time and redeem the title of the land. his nephew would achieve greatness in his Thus the family finally came to acquire life. He did not want that a brilliant career land of its own. should be cut short for want of money. He summoned Charan Singh and persuaded Chaudhry Mir Singh had five children, him to continue his education. He assured Charan Singh, Ram Devi, Shyam Singh, him of the necessary financial help as long Risalo and Man Singh. The first six years as he required it. of Charan Singh’s childhood were spent in Noorpur and his boyhood in Bhoopgarhi. Encouraged by his uncle’s assurance Since Bhoopgarhi did not have a school, Charan Singh went to Agra to continue his young Charan Singh was admitted to a studies. He took his B.Sc degree in 1923, primary school in Jaani village, a short joining the M.A. and Law classes distance from Bhoopgarhi. He evinced simultaneously. He secured the Master’s great interest in his studies right from the degree as well as the Law degree in 1925. beginning. He was punctual in attending Having thus accomplished his ambition the school and after school hours he went in education Charan Singh was once to the fields to lend a helping hand to his again at the cross-roads m choosing his father. In school he was a studious boy. career. With the qualifications he had He did not join his school mates in the acquired he could have secured a cushy pranks school children play. During the bureaucratic post. But Charan Singh had recess he would be found engrossed in his own ideas. Having experienced reading in a secluded corner of the school. proverty and hardship he was determined His teachers saw in him an unusual lad to devote his energies to the betterment of who would earn name and fame in life. the life of the poor and hardworking people, After finishing primary education Charan particularly the agriculturists. It was in Singh was admitted to the Governnsent the fulfilment of this mission that he decided School, Meerut, for secondary education. to take up the legal profession. He enrolled He passed his matriculation examination in himself as an advocate and chose the tehsil 1919 and the intermediate examination in town of Ghaziabad as his field of activity. 1921. With this his student life in Meerut came to an end. Soon after he had completed his 7 education Chaudhry Charan Singh was Congress in 1929 and held many important married to Gayatri Devi, daughter of posts in the party organisation for several Chaudhry Ganga Ram, a leading Arya years. Between 1940-46 he was Secretary, Samajist of Haryana and resident of village President and Treasurer of the District Garhi Kundal in the Sonepat tehsil of Congress Committee. He was elected to Rohtak district. Gayatri Devi who is the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly in popularly known as “Mataji” was educated 1937 from the Chhaprauli-Baraut at Kanya Mahavidyalaya, Jullundur, and constituency of Meerut district and set an had participated in the activities of the all-India record by representing it for Arya Samaj and in the Congress movement. 40 years till 1977 when he was elected to the She later joined active politics and was twice Lok Sabha. elected to the U.P. Legislative Assembly from the rural constituency of Aligarh and The Chaudhry first joined the U.P. Mathura districts respectively. Government led by Pandit Pant as Parliamentary Secretary in 1946 and worked Chaudhry Charan Singh was greatly in this capacity till 1951. He was appointed influenced by the teachings of Mahatma a Minister in 1951 and held different Gandhi. He is a true Gandhian keen to portfolios till 1967 when he became Chief implement the policies and programmes Minister of Uttar Pradesh. These portfolios of the Mahatma. Maharishi Daya Nand included those of Home, Agriculture, Local and Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel also Bodies, Revenue, Law, Forests, Irrigation influenced Charan Singh. He was greatly and Power, Transport, Animal Husbandry, impressed by these three eminent sons of Justice & Information. India. Their writings and teachings have had a tremendous impact on his personality. Chaudhry Charan Singh has the unique Along with his legal practice the Chaudhry distinction of being elected twice as Chief evinced a keen interest in social welfare Minister of U.P. in 1967 he led the United activities At the call of Mahatma Front Government after Congress Gandhi he joined the civil disobedience again to the ground and In 1969 when he movement and participated in the salt headed the BKD-Congress coalition satyagrah. The then Government arrested Government supported by Mrs.' Gandhi’s him and jailed him. Congress. Chaudhry Charan Singh soon realised Chaudhry Charan Singh is an eminent that Ghaziabad was too small a place for agriculture economist. Agricultural has his ever widening activities. He waned been his main interest in life and he has held to shift to Meerut in 1929. He was elected charge of this portfolio for over ten years. Vice-President of the Meerut District Board in 1931 and continued to hold this The Chaudhry is wellknown for his post till 1935. The District Boards then integrity and crusade against corruption. had a non-officials as Vice-President. The An effective election campaigner, he can Deputy Commissioner of the district used keep audiences spell-bound. to be the ex-officio President. He is very fond of writing. He has Chaudhry Charan Singh enrolled written a number erf' books and articles on himself as a member of the Indian National agriculture, land reforms and Gandhian economy. Some of his works are “Abolition The Chaudhry is a controversial of Zamindari Co-operative Farming personality. He was responsible for X-rayed”, “India’s Poverty And Its ordering the arrest of the former Prime Solution” and “Indian Economy” A Minister, Mrs. Indira Gandhi, and Gandhian Blueprint: launching prosecutions proceedings against her for the various offences committed by He has five daughters and a son. The her during the emergency. He appointed eldest among his children is Satya who is several commissions to hold enquiries into married to an educationist, Prof. Guru Duttthe misdeeds of Mrs. Gandhi and her Solanki, at present an MLA in the U.P. associates including Mr. Bansi Lai, He was elected from Agra. The second Mr. V.C. Shukla and others. daughter, Ved, is married to Dr. J.P. Singh, an eminent surgeon in Dr. Ram Manohar Chaudhry Charan Singh resigned from Lohia Hospital, New Delhi. The third, Home Ministership in protest against the Gyan, is a medical graduate. She resigned removal of Mr. Raj Narain from the Desai from a Government job recently to join herGovernment which he described as a pack husband in Geneva. He is an I.P.S. Officer. of impotent persons. The fourth daughter, Saroj, is married to Mr. S.P. Verma, an officer in the Sugarcane Without Chaudhry Charan Singh, the Department of U.P. Theirs is an inter-caste Desai Government and the Janata Party marriage. found it difficult to function. They were a divided house. Chaudhry Charan Singh His only son, Ajit Singh, is an became a hero in the eyes of the masses engineering graduate and is employed in who were not happy with the performance the United States of America. He is of the Janata Government. Meanwhile a married to Radhika. Ajit Singh has three Kisan rally was organised to celebrate the children. The youngest of the Chaudhry birthday of Chaudhry Charan Singh on children is Sharda who is married to December 23, 1978. It demonstrated the Mr. Vasudeo Singh, an engineer in the great following he has. The press hailed it United States. Chaudhry Charan Singh as the biggest show of Kisan power which and Gayatri Devi are very fond of their stood behind Charan Singh. grandchildren, nephews and nieces. Both love them, enjoy their company and Chaudhry Charan Singh was again whenever possible take them out for picnicsinducted into the Desai Government. He and other places of agricultural interest. was appointed senior Deputy Prime The couple make it a point to spend the Minister with Finance as his portfolio. weekend in the country side away from the city. Both are very fond of playing cards as a past-time. The 1977 elections brought the Chaudhry for the first time on to the national scene. He was appointed Home Minister and given No. 2 position in Moraiji Desai’s Government formed in March 1977. 9 3

FROM NOORPUR TO NEW DELHI

pHAUDHRY CHARAN SINGH has a year by Mrs Gandhi during the ^ covered a long way during his 50 yearsemergency. of political career to reach Delhi which was his ultimate destination. Born in Chaudhry Charan Singh was a member Chaudhry Mir Singh’s humble peasant of the Ghaziabad Town Congress Committee home in village Noorpur on December 2, from 1929 to 1939 and held some office or 1902, the Chaudhry after getting degrees the the other for several years. He served either of M.A. (History) and Law began his as President or General Secretary of the independent legal practice in Ghaziabad in Meerut District Congress Committee 1928, and shifted to Meerut in 1939. continuously from 1939 to 1948. He had been a member of the AICC since 1946 and In 1930, he was sent to jail for six also a member of the State Parliamentary months for contravention of salt laws. In Board since 1951 except for a break of two August 1940, he was prosecuted on a false years. When disgusted with infighting, he did charge but was acquitted by the court. not even seek membership the of PCC. Three months later in November 1940, he Chaudhry Charan Singh severed all was sentenced to one year’s imprisonment connections with group politics in 1965. in the individual satyagrah movement. In So in 1966, his name did not find, a place August 1942, he was arrested under the DIR in the State Parliamentary Board of the and was released in November 1943. Most Congress whose members instead of being recently he was arrested under MISA on elected, were nominated by the Congress June 22, and put in Tihar Jail for more than President on a group basis. He was also 10 Deputy Prime Minister of India Chaudhry Charan Singh is seen giving last minute touches to his budget proposals before presenting the annual budget for the year 1979-80 in the Lok Sabha on February 28, 1979, The then Deputy Prime M.nister Chaudhry Charan Singh is seen here with the President Mr.. Reddy the Prime Minister Mr. Desai aoi Deputyother cabinet Prime colleagues Minister. immediately after being sworn in as

The Prime Minister Chaudhry Charan Singh with Mrs. Gayatri Devi and the Foreign affairs Minister Mr. S.N. Mishra. His daughter Mrs. Saroj is also seen in the picture. the General Secretary of the Congress landlord. This was to the seeds of the Legislature Party in the State Legislature land reforms that followed. from 1948 to 1956. It was in April 1939 that Chaudhry The Chaudhry shifted from Meerut to Charan Singh brought a resolution before Lucknow on his first appointment as the the executive of the Congress Legislature Parliamentary Secretary in the Pant Party saying that in the interest of good Ministry in April 1946 and remained a government it was essential that a minimum member of the U.P. Cabinet, from June 1951 of 50 per cent public employment be (except for two breaks in 1959-60 and 1963 reserved for the sons and dependents of the pasting 21 months or so). agriculturists who form the mass of our people. But is was not considered. In In the year 1939 Chaudhry Charan March 1947 the Chaudhry again wrote a Singh introduced an Agriculture Produce long article explaining his views and got it Marketing Bill in the Assembly as a private distributed among the members of the Member. He wrote an article entitled Congress Party as also other persons “Agriculture Marketing” which appeared interested in public life. However despite in the issue of the Hindustan Times of Delhi his best efforts Chaudhry Charan Singh dated March 31, 1932. The measure which failed in his endeavour as the hold of was intended to safeguard the interests of the non-agriculturists on public life and the producer against the greed of the trader was Congress party was complete and the adopted by almost all the States. The Punjab atmosphere was hostile. According to a was the first to do so. Credit for this survey made in 1961, out of a total of 1347 goes to the late Sir Chhotu Ram, the then members of the ICS and the IAS in the Revenue Minister of the State. In U.P. it country, only 155, or 11.5 per cent, came was brought on the Statute Book in 1964 atfrom the agricultural class. the instance of Chaudhry Charan Singh. The measure which benefited the farmers The Chaudhry took a leading part in was stoutly opposed by the trader class andthe formulation and finalisation of the Debt urban elite on the plea that the farmers Redemption Bill of 1939 which brought having become rich and educated could great relief to the indebted peasantry. The hold their own against the traders and Chaudhry and friends of his way of thinking that it was a measure of control and as found to their great disillusionment that controls were not liked by the people the leading lights of the Congress Socialist measure was unnecessary. Party who professed such great solicitude for the peasants and workers from the In June 1939 Chaudhry Charan Singh public platform took up a strong wrote a pamphlet entitled “Prevention pro-creditor stand. of Division of Holdings Below a Certain Minimum” and prepared a Bill entitled In the matter of land reforms Chaudhry “Land Utilisation Bill” which sought to Charan Singh gave a lead to the country transfer the proprietory interest in and saw to it that in his State of U.P. the agricultural holdings in U.P. to such of Zamindari or landlord-tenant system was the tenants, or actual tillers, who chose to eradicated root and branch. The Chaudhry deposit ten times the annual rent in the is the originator of every single idea Government treasury to the account of theembodied in the land reform legislation. 11 He was the spirit behind the Zamindari Reforms Act had just been enforced and Abolition Act of U.P. and he so ably the consequential processes were under way drafted st that not even a single provision when the Patwaris, who numbered about was invalidated by the judiciary as it 28000 and consituted a vital link in the happened to similar legislation in other revenue administration, begon agitating states. for increased salaries and other facilities. Without waiting for a month or so as Abolition of Zamindari or landlord- Chaudhry Charan Singh had advised them, tenant relations and introduction of a they resigneden masse in January 1953, uniform tenure throughout the State pavedbelieving that this would bring the revenue the way for consolidation of land holdings.administrationto a standstill and, as a Hetherefore got the necessary legislation consequence, bend the Government to its enacted and the required staff trained knees. Chaudhry Charan Singh, however, without any loss of time. did not kneel down before them. He created an institution of Lokpals who He repealed the Agricultural Income enjoyed fewer and lesser powers than the Tax Act enacted in 1948 with a view largely Patwaris. He met with tough opposition to tax the incomes of receivers or big from the higher echelons of the Congress landlords. After the abolition of Zamindari Party but he did not flinch. He told his in 1952, the Act became superfluous, so farcolleagues and leaders that if the as landlords were concerned and turned out Government did not waiver, Government to be a source of corruption and harassmentservants would not think of staging a strike to those who actually cultivated their lands.or issuing threats to it for the next ten years. The Chaudhry replaced it by the Large His prophecy proved true for 13 years, that Land-holding Tax Act which ensured that a is till 1966, when non-gazetted employees dishonest farmer could not conceal his of the State struck work in the days of income as calculated under the Act. Mrs. Sucheta Kriplani and at one time succeeded in paralysing the administration After Chaudhry Charan Singh resigned for a period of nine weeks at a stretch. For in 1959, the Imposition of the Ceiling Act political reasons, Chaudhry Charan Singh’s replaced the Large Land-holding Act. The advice in this matter was not accepted. new Act was framed in such a way that the area of land which could be available under Chaudhry Charan Singh for the first it for distribution to the landless was time hit the headlines in the national Press considerably reduced. when at the historic Nagpur Congress session he lashed out against Prime Minister Chaudhry Charan Singh is against Nehru and stoutly opposed co-operative strikes and wants workers in the fields and farming. The Chaudhry made out a logical factories to work hard with devotion to case against Nehru’s proposal of introducing duty. He cannot tolerate indiscipline and co-operative farming in the country. He the agitational approach of Government made a forceful speech at the AICC session employees. He deals with such situations which thwarted the attempt of Nehru and with an iron hand. How Chaudhry Charan Congressmen of his way of thinking Singh dealt with the Patwaris’ strike in U.P. introduce co-operative farming. Even today proves that he is a man of firm decision and the country is far from the goal of quick action. The Zamindari and Land co-operative farming. 12 He pointed out to the Congress will testify, there were several occasions delegates attending the session that pooling when Chaudhry Charan Singh was in the of land and labour was not necessary for midst of a speech, and the leader of the increased production, and that both these opposition asked for extension of time of schemes were impracticable and militated the sitting (and got it) so that they might against our democratic way of life. The further profit by his knowledge and former would lead to decrease in productionexperience. and the latter to wastage of public funds and corruption. This belief of the Chaudhry The Chaudhry is an untiring crusader and its bold and clear expression in the against corruption in the administration. presence of Nehru was one of the reasons His own integrity in the widest sense of the behind his resignation from the U.P. term is beyond doubt. His private life is Cabinet in 1959. But he would not hesitate above reproach and an open book for the to take a stand which he considered for the public. Nor can he be charged with abuse good of the country and its people. of power in the interest of those who are near and dear to him. As somebody wrote Apart from fulfilling the demands of to an American student of U.P. politics, social justice, the land reforms in U.P. were “Chaudhry Charan Singh is not going to serve as a bulwork for democracy.accommodating even to his own people to This argument, however, had no appeal forthe extent he should be”. the opponents of Chaudhry Charan Singh’s policies. As time has proved, however, it is Chaudhry Charan Singh has the unique the mainly land reforms which despite the distinction among politicians in India of deteriorating political and administrative not being under the obligation of any conditions in the State after the departure businessman, or industrailist. During of Pandit Pant for Delhi, prevented elections he gets financial support from his communism from gaining a foothold in theconstituents without even asking for it. State as it has in several other States in India. There can be no greater tribute to his character than the fact that during the long Chaudhry Charan Singh’s popularity, period in which he has enjoyed political both amongst the masses and the power, nobody, at least, no disinterested intelligentia, is unassailable. It is proved person, can point an accusing finger at the by the thumping majority by which he wasChaudhry. elected to the U.P. Assembly in February 1967. He beat his close9t rival by more Chaudhry Charan Singh is fond of than 52,000 votes—the highest margin in reading. His absorption in his duties is any assembly constituency inwall the four obvious from the fact that he does not like general elections held so far in the country. touring. Chaudhry Charan Singh received appreciation and applause from the opposition in almost every session of the Legislature for his common sense and practical policies. Not only that. As proceedings of the Legislative Assembly 13 4

AS THE PRESS KNEW HIM

A T the time of Chaudhry Charan Singh’s as would appear from the book, “Factional resignation from the U.P. Cabinet Politics in an Indian State” by an American 1959, the National Herald of Lucknow paid author, Paul R. Brass, published by Oxford a tribute to him editorially in its issue of University Press, Bombay. April 23. It said : “There is a tragedy, both personal and The following are extracts from this organisational, in Mr. Charan Singh’s book by Brass who wrote that their only resignation. His exit is a loss to the U.P. charge against Mr. Charan Singh is that he administration and Mr. Sampurnanand has is “proud by nature and uncompromising also lost an able, earnest minded and hard in his relations with others.” working colleague with a reputation for integrity when such reputations are rare. “...Chaudhry Charan Singh, currently There were several occasions when he minister for agriculture in U ttar Pradesh differed strongly from Mr. Charan Singh Government, has dominated the district and criticised him severely on matters of congress and. district politics (of Meerut) policy, but his sincerity of purpose, his since the early forties and successfully knowledge of the subjects he had to deal resisted numerous challenges to his with and his devotion to duty could not beleadership during his long rule. questioned.” Chaudhry Sahib, as he is reverentially called by his followers, has been an unusually All these qualities are grudgingly successful factional leader in Uttar Pradesh conceded even by his political opponents, politics. Inspired less by a desire for power Chaudhry Charan Singh meeting Chief Minister of West Bengal Mr. Jyoti Basu in New Delhi on July 9, 1977.

His holiness Dalai Lama called on the then Home Minister Chaudhry Charan Singh in New Delhi on July 23, 1977. I H B f H f Chaudhry Charan Singh isseen with a child, at the houseof Ch.Ranbir Singh Advocate in Bulandsehar. Chaudhry Charan Singh, Deputy prime Minister of India, addressing a public meeting at village Ramala in U. P. where he performed opening ceremony of a sugar factory on April 14, 1979. Chaudhry Charan Singh is seen addressing a press conference in New Delhi October 4, 1977. than by an invincible belief in the deliver the votes. Alone among the Janata’s righteousness of his actions and policies, bigwigs, he has a mass base. While few of Charan Singh seeks neither friend nor his economic ideas are beyond challenge, favour and gives no quarter to those whohis personal integrity is unquestionable. oppose him” (p. 139). Any Government in New Delhi that seeks . to hound him out of the nation’s democratic “Charan Singh is not exactly an policy can probably survive. But the hope intellectual in politics but he is a well read that it can acquire or maintain stability in man. With an incisive intelligence which the process must be written off as he has devoted to a continuing study of moonshine.” agricultural problems in Uttar Pradesh, Charan Singh is the leading ideologist “Charan Singh is apt to make claims in Uttar Pradesh of the peasant-proprietor. which in today’s political context sound As a prominent member of the U.P. boastful, if not bizarre. But very often Zamindari abolition committee he worked what he says is simply the whole truth. hard to ensure that the Zamindari Abolition More than anyone else he had catalysed the Act would contain no loopholes, which Janata Party into being by pre-empting would permit the continued dominance of Jayaprakash Narain’s idea of “merger” and the Zamindars in the rural economy of the not a coalition. He paved the way for state and to make certain that landlordism Morarji Desai’s elevation to the Prime may not raise its head again (p. 139-140).” Minister’s post by opting out of the race in the former’s favour;, if there had been a free “Charan Singh has many of the vote Jagjivan Ram would have probably qualities of the ideal faction leader. He is romped home. known for his intellectual abilities and has a reputation for integrity. No one has ever “There may be no such thing as charged him with a desire for material gratitude in politics but none can ignore the advantage for himself. The major criticism hard realities on the ground except at his levelled against Charan Singh as party peril. It is clear as daylight that Mrs. leader is that he is proud by nature and Gandhi has hit the comeback trail, mainly uncompromising in his relations with because of vicious infighting in the Janata’s others” (p. 141). top leadership and partly because two of the most inept state Governments in the A well-known political commentator, country—the ones in populous UP and Mr. K. C. Khanna, Resident Editor of the Bihar—are headed by Charan Singh’s Times of India, Bombay, in an article handpicked nominees. a And yet, Charan under the caption “Charan Singh the big Singh’s hold on popular imagination in the Question” wrote in the Illustrated Weekly nation’s Hindi heartland remains of India, Bombay, dated January 14-20, unrivalled.” 1979: “True, it is still not quite certain “Next to Indira Gandhi, Charan Singh whether Charan Singh’s BLD is the biggest is, in a way, the most important political bulwark in the way of Mrs. Gandhi’s return leader in the country. Like the former he to power by popular demand or whether has no organisation worth the name to other factors, including the courts or command. But he can attract crowds and memories of Emergency, will play an equal IS or greater role in blocking her progress. the impression sought to be created by his But, for good or for ill (depending on one’sdetractors that he is a champion of the predilection) there can be no doubt about kulaks and wants the country to set its face Charan Singh’s influence in his own parish. against modern machinery, if not leap The recent Kisan rally to celebrate his backwards into the 16th century. birthday is enough of a testimony. No other political leader or group could have “I am not so daft as to abhor heavy organised a “show” like that anywhere in industry regardless”, he told me recently the country, much less in New Delhi.” and went on to elaborate: “The ultimate aim, of course, is to have fewer and still “Hard-headed politicians are, however, feewr men working on the soil so that more less impressed by crowds than votes and at and more workers are released for the the moment the numbers game in the production of industrial goods and services Janata parliamentary party not to speak ofthat a civilised society needs. But as long Parliament, does not particularly favour as there are millions upon millions of Charan Singh. It never will. No society— unemployed, and underemployed persons in feudal, socialist, capitalist or communist— the country waiting for employment, for has ever been ruled by peasants. Why this full employment, we need to have an is so is for sociologists to discover. Perhapsagrarian system which, compared to all the farmer, by the very nature of his calling,others, provides the largest employment is too attached to his land to develop a possible per acre.” wider view of the national needs and possibilities in the global context. The “In contrast, his hostility to big and emergence of a powerful peasants’ party inabsentee landlords is implacable. Indeed, Australia or the elevation of a peanut it could be argued that he would not have farmer to the U.S. Presidency proves been able to retain his hold on the nothing. In any case, the percentage of imagination of the rural folk for more than population engaged in farming must three decades in the northern states if he dwindle and more and more manpower get had not served them with credit. As a diverted into industry or services as everyRevenue Minister in Uttar Pradesh during nation marches ahead on the road to the fifties he not only conceived fairly modernisation.” radical land reforms but braved and “This does not mean, however, that in overcame the opposition of both socialist the present stage of India’s development, luminaries and his own seniors in the Charan Singh and his party can be counted Congress (including the then Chief Minister, out. He makes the emotive point that overPandit Govind Ballabh Pant) to implement the years the wealth of the rural areas has them.” been sucked into the cities, that urban areas are favoured in the provision of education, “The thoroughness with which land health services, drinking water, electricity reforms have been carried out in Uttar and above all job opportunities, and that a Pradesh has heen acknowledged again and fair deal must be given to villages where again by the study teams of the Planning India lives. His demands cannot be ignored Commission and independent observers like nor grievances wished away. Professor W. A. Ladenisky. It is largely due to Charan Singh’s endeavours that “Charan Singh has been keen to dispel absentee landlordism has been virtually 16 eliminated from the state; middle farmers “Twice Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh now dominate the countryside; and some without being able to complete full terms, three million sub-tenants as well as he is now Home Minister and the second so-called trespassers have been secured in command in the Government of India. permanent rights in the land they till.” There is just one more step for him to climb and he will have fulfilled his life’s “Mr. Charan Singh”, says an admirer, ambition. But this happens to be the most “can never cook a good meal nor can he difficult step. Will he make it? ever set the house ablaze. But he can keep the pot on the simmer and usually does.” “If it is left to him he will prove to be For all his vision and patriotism, he is a great political iconoclast. He will turn singularly inept. He began grandly in the everything the Congress under Mr. Nehru mid-seventies with the aim of creating a and Mrs. Gandhi did, upside down. He viable two-party system in the country, butcalls himself a devotee of Gandhian ideals when the prize was well within his grasp, and has authored a book titled he took the first available opportunity to“TOWARDS GANDHI” which is awaiting try and destroy Mrs. Gandhi for gooda publication. He has no patience with bid that he eventually fouled up. He is anything that smacks of Socialism, even of bitterly opposed to the personality cult butthe confused Nehruian or Congress kind.” most of his moves since Janata’s advent to power have revolved round just two “Mr. Charan Singh says the people personalities—Morarji Desai and himself. must take the blame for trying to make He bemoans the resurgence of casteism but ‘peace with the ideologues’ whom Nehru is still groping for a way to shed his ‘Jat’ had drafted for the purpose of planned image.” development of the country. ‘Like democracy and socialism Gandhi and Nehru An eminent journalist, Ranjit Roy, are unmixable’ he says.” assessed Chaudhry Charan Singh’s ideas, “Mr. Charan Singh has emerged as the ambitions, strength and weaknesses in his second most powerful man in the country— cover story published in Sunday, weekly second only to the Prime Minister. A man magazine of Calcutta, of June 12,1977. who is either loved or hated, he is the Following are excerpts from article object of both intense awe and irrational entitled “The Man Who Would Be King” dislike. There are many, even within which appeared just after Chaudhry Charan Janata Party, who believe that Charan Singh Singh became No. 2 in the Desai will even destroy the Janata Party if in Government with Home as his portfolio. turn he can become Prime Minister—the King. But he denies this vehemently. “Those who know Mr. Charan Singh Charan Singh is an ambitious man, as the well are agreed that he is a man of trouble which arose within the Janata Party determination and fixed ideas. He is a during selection of nominees for the forthright, person and one great qualificationAssembly elections proved. But he has of his is that he does not know how to much to commend him. He is the rare conceal his ambition. A man of intense politician in the country against whom there loves and hates, he did not shine much as a is no charge of corruption. His scrupulous lawyer in Meerut, but he has risen very highhonesty has won him the admiration and on the political ladder. love of lakhs of people in the North” . 17 “ In 1967 when he deserted the Congress Charan Singh as Prime Minister with and brought about the downfall of Mr. C.B.Indira’s Help Gupta’s Congress Government, Mr. Singh announced that he had been associated with Credit goes to Sasthi Brata—a Congress for 45 years. Being 64 at that well-known Indian journalist based in time, he must have been taking part in London—for predicting that the Chaudhry Congress politics since he was 19. He will be Prime Minister with Mrs. Gandhi’s underwent imprisonment in 1942. The help in an article published in most important office he ever held in the “Onlooker”, a magazine published from Congress was that of General Secretary of Bombay in its issue dated January 16-31, the U.P.C.C. from 1946-56.” 1979. Some extracts from his articles are given below : “His capacity to bring under one roof parties which apparently do not agree must “Chaudhry Charan Singh is a Jat and be uncommon. He brought along with hima man of intense pride and moral a sufficient number of Congress MLAs consciousness. His heart is weak and at 77, (sixteen) to give him, in association with thoughts of human morality must Jan Sangh, the SSP, the PSP, the CPI, the occasionally, if not constantly, flit through Swatantra and the Republican Party, besides his mind. Can these factors be entirely some independents, a majority to form a irrelevant to the decisions he makes and the Government. No other leader has perhaps way he looks at the future....” ever been able to bring so many disparate elements together. The coalition came to “Chaudhry Sahib is a man of the be known as SVD (Samyukta Vidhayak people. He practised as a civil advocate, but Dal)”. did not go to Harrow and Cambridge. He is learned in his own way, but resents “Meanwhile at a conference at Indore condescension especially when it comes from (November 1967) a new party called the upstarts who see the world from posh Bharatiya Karanti Dal (BKD) was formed. drawing-rooms and through the tinted Mr. Singh was one of the prime movers of glassesit of Fabian Utopia. He may know and had with him a number of leaders from the country better than the former inmates several states who had also left the of Anand Bhawan, but basically he is a Congress, Mr. Ajoy Mukherjee and simple man. He talks of ‘honour’ as a Mr. Hamayun Kabir of West Bengal, tangible thing, rather than as a concept in Mr. Mahamaya Pershad Singh of Bihar, the semantic puzzle of an Oxford tutorial. Mr. Kumbha Ram Arya of Rajasthan and Mr. Harekrishna Mahtab of Orissa were “But the man is old and also very HI. among them. Mr. Singh made another Being a politician he is not devoid of a bid for power in the 1974 election in UP, fierce personal ambition. ‘If I could be but the Congress managed to get a majorityKing-maker, why can I now not be a King ?’ although its votes went down to 32 per cent.must be a thought which passes through his However Mr. Singh formed a minority mind, though perhaps it is phrased in some­ Government after the split in the Congress. what more earthy language.... He formed a minority BKD Government in 1969 with Mrs. Gandhi’s Congress “When I met him in his house Charan support”. Singh was encased in a shawl even though the temperature outside was a reasonable soon boil over. There may be enough 80 degrees F. There were Rabi Ray and substance left in the container to still make Raj Narain waiting on the lawn outside, a meal. But if the fires of communalism, while inside the room there was an casteism and personal rivalries rage on with atmosphere of hospital, with that thing the present ferocity, there will be nothing which doctors use to measure blood at the bottom of the vessel but charred pressure, along with a host of phials and residue. Or to change the metaphor, medicine bottles in a corner... Humpty Dumpty will never be put together again. I shall sketch a possible scenario for “That shaved round head with an even the future, which I sincerely hope will not growth of short grey hair, along with a be enacted. distinctly Roman nose and those deep set eyes made him look more ascetic than “Chaudhry Charan Singh’s patience is perhaps he is. exhausted beyond endurance; his sense “Chaudhry Charan Singh is the only of being ‘the agrieved party’ is inflammed senior politician who did not either extend by his followers who do not cease reminding his hand for a shake nor fold his palms him that his ‘honour* has been impugned. together into a ‘Namaskar’. Chaudhry The prospect of joining forces with Indira Sahib motioned me with his eyes to sit in Gandhi is not as unpleasant as it once was, the chair next to him and cleared his throat because the Prime Minister is seen to be several times before voicing a single word. the biggest stumbling block for ‘the prosperity of the nation.' “We got on well right from the start. He was forthcoming and totally without self-consciousness, even displaying a “A new party is formed, to which a touching naivette when he said, ‘I expected substantial section of the former BLD her to behave honourably, with reference parliamentarians pledge their loyalties. to the arrest he had authorised in October, Janata, though officially still commanding majority votes in the Lok Sabha heads for 1977. a total crack-up (with the RSS pulling one “He had no great regard for his former way and socialists another), while colleagues in the Cabinet, and there were Morarji Desai resolutely refuses to budge, several sharply disparaging remarks he and Jagjivan Ram characteristically and made about senior political figures, patiently waits to the last minute to see including the Prime Minister, which led me which horse is the better bet. to doubt his sagacity. But that he was an honest and uncomplicated man was never “Meanwhile what is left of the in doubt. Congress (O) is further dismembered by the ‘unity’ faction going over to “I left his room a little puzzled and Mrs. Gandhi’s party. At this time the quite a bit impressed. Though the trump card finally falls into Charan Singh’s overwhelming feeling was that of an lap. He is offered the Prime Ministership impending and inevitable finale. unconditionally by Mrs. Gandhi, her “Whatever the outcome, I am calculation being that human life is of finite convinced that the pot pourri connectionduration, especially so in the case of an ill that is presently called the Janata Party will old man. 19 “Chaudhry Sahib is confronted with a advice of Mahatma Gandhi who had advised choice. Either to sit on the hot seat, even Congressmen to think of the villages as the for a few months or may be a year, only toreal India lived there, to pay attention to usher in the certainty of Gandhite oligarchyagriculture, to village industries. But later. Or to do his patriotic duty, swallowCongress leaders had laid emphasis on big his pride, be magnanimous, and put up factories which only helped Tatas and with what his principal adjutant has called Birlas. He also had a dig at the elected 'a bunch of impotants’. representatives. ‘These representatives forget you when they go to Lucknow and Delhi. “The Kisan leader decides that 'honour’ must win, that he has an As all eyes turn to the return of Indira obligation both to himself and to his loyal Gandhi into the centre stage of Indian supporters. He accepts the crown and livespolitics, an ageing warrior sits alone with happily ever after, till the natural span of his thoughts in the lawns of his 12, Tughlak life runs out. There is no one to thwart theRoad residence in New Delhi. He is the the lady anymore. Indira Gandhi rules man, more than Mrs. Indira Gandhi who again. will decide the shape of the things to come in the immediate future. “I hope it won’t happen. But it is a reckless man who will bet this fortune on Charan Singh, the founding father of the contrary.” the Janata Party is a sad man today as he approaches the end of his 77th year. Pain This Fortnight, a New Delhi magazine and anguish are etched deep into his steel in its issue of December 7-21, 1979, carries grey eyes as he talks softly and-baltingly to an article under the heading “CHARAN his gradually diminishing stream of visitors. SINGH VS INDIRA” some extracts from And today, almost 20 months after his which are given below: brain child—the Janata Party—came to “Although Mrs Gandhi excels at power, his cup of sorrow seems to have exploiting political issues Mr. Charan brimmed over. “ It is I who am more Singh’s appeal lies in his crusade against responsible for the present state of things corruption, and in his being a spokesman ofthan any one else. Do you follow ? Whom the farmers. Both of them draw big crowds will I complain to, it is my own doing or wherever he weat in Fatehpur and this undoing, call it anything,” he said. in spite of the inclement weather on Prophet Armed : A little over two years November 29 and 30, the last two days of ago, Charan Singh was released from campaigning. Mr. Charan Singh’s meeting, Delhi’s Tihar Jail. For almost a decade, at Dhara, 75 kilometers from Fatehpur city, he had been the lone voice in the wilderness, began under an overcastsky. No sooner whistling into a coming storm, warning had he started speaking than it began to bis countrymen of a coming holocaust. As drizzle. The 5000 strong rally listened in he stepped out of prison, his nightmare of a patience after Mr. Charan Singh’s remark decade seemed a reality. A seemingly ‘Brothers we are farmers used to working in invincible “dictatorship” held the country the rains.’ He spoke for nearly an hour, in its iron grip. explaining why the farmers’ life had not changed despite 30 years of freedom. He But then things began to change—with accused Congress leaders of not heeding the a rapidness that far exceeded even Charan 20 Singh’s expectations. The prophet of a Charan Singh and his colleague Raj Narain united opposition party to fell the almightywere removed from the union cabinet. Congress, began to get armed. The man who created the Samyukta Vidhayak Dal, Increasing differences with Prime the Bhartiya Lok Dal and the Bhartiya Minister Morarji Desai and Janata Party Kranti Dal, became the founding father of President Chandra Shekhar had come to a the Janata Party. As the Janata Party point of no return. “We had won the assumed office in the wake of the historic elections in the name of the village, the March 77 general elections, Charan Singh, farmer the unemployed young people and in the prophet was armed. the name of Gandhi. We had won on the symbol of the kisan—the poor kisan. But Then Charan Singh was “the ultimate we have not been able to achieve any of strongman, of impeccable integrity and these aims and I am afraid we are not likely total incorruptibility”. No man, it was to achieve them in the future also...”, said said, had filled the office of the Home Charan Singh. The disillusionment with Minister so collossus like since the days of the Janata Party among Charan Singh’s Sardar Patel. As the ruling deity of the followers also ran parrallel to the wilder Janata Party, he propounded his Tolstoyan-disenchantment within the public. Gandhian, yearning for the return to pastoral life—with its ideal of the simple Prophet outcast: Now with the return village life, with its feudal relationships and of Indira Gandhi and the lack of any signs its small farmers living happily with of improvement in the Janata Party’s minimum of state interference. He struggled functioning, more and more people within to refocus India’s planning and priorities Parliament and outside are looking to see back to where they belong—in the...... what the ageing leader does. With all villages where 80 per cent of the Indians possible permutations and combinations of live. Above all he promised a fight unto a compromise seemingly exhausted, there is death against corruption. little doubt left to most observers that Charan Singh is now preparing himself for Prophet Unarmed : But then things yet another battle. And, of course, his began to go wrong. “ I was guided and focus is the kisans. “Everybody has been driven by certain ideas, but as it happens exploiting them (farmers). Gandhiji was my colleagues did not share those ideas absolutely right when he said that the cities s...... if I received any support in the are the exploiters of the villagers. That Cabinet for my ideas, it was from my is why I think that an organisation of the intimate colleague, Raj Narain,” he said. kisans is necessary,” he said. Then began a calculated round of what his followers call “the great bear baiting’. He also knows that time, the great Atrocities on Harijans were suddenly found arbiter, is running out on him. Hence he to be taking place all over the country; theplaces his faith, not on his lieutenants law and order situation seemed about to fall —leaders whom he resurrected from their apart and the infighting within the Janata graves and placed in positions of Party continued unabated and with a power—but on ‘his people’, the kisans. He certain gathering momentum. And then, himself feels that his legacy will remain with a swiftness that surpassed even the the reawakening in the rural India. “If arming of the prophet, he was unarmed, that is achieved, Ajay, then I will think my 21 life will be a full life, a successful life,” cause for my break with the Congress was he said. the breach of faith on the part of Congress leadership—some differences on grounds of An Interview with Charan Singh principles had also cropped up. So, my Q : Although it is widely believed that parting of ways with the Congress had you are quite unhappy with the way thingssomething to do with principles and are going in the Janata Party and in the ideology—not as in the case of others who country, you have chosen to keep silentleft for merely on personal grounds. I had a all these months. Why ? certain vision that I had formed about my country, and its future. It is that vision, A : I am unhappy that is why I am that ideology, that ambition of making this keeping quiet(laughs). It is a vicious country great once again, to restore to it circle. its old glory, that had motivated me and Q : Your followers seem to be gettinghas moved me throughout these 10-12 years. impatient, waiting for you to speak out...And led me to five general elections, almost single handedly, almost like a mad man, a A : May be some people might be man who is just infatuated with an ideal. wanting to know my views, but I would like to wait for some time more. So I thought the replacement of Q : For how long ? Congress by the SVD government will mean a radical change—not merely a change, but A : Six weeks at the outside. May be a very radical change—the entire outlook of I will have to break my silence earlier, but the Administration, the Government, the six weeks at the outside. Parliament and the political leaders will be Q : You have often said that while changed. And that has not come about, you will work for the Party, you are notnow, I am afraid, it is not likely to come willing to join the Cabinet. This can be about. It is this that really pains me and taken as an expression of no confidence in that is the point. the Government. Q : Many people expected the same A : You have got your own views.sort of thing to take place from the Janata ‘Pahale-hi kaha diya hai I am ki not happy Party’s formation and its coming into Usme sabhi cheez aa jatti hain (Raj Narain Government. But that has also not adds: Man Nahin Karta ha ki ham kam happened. No radical change no basic Janata ke saath karein kyonki hamko nahinchange... lagta ki kuchh hone wala hai. Kuchh ho jai agar to wo aur boat hai). My being A : True, that is my problem also. I reinducted into the Cabinet, along with Raj was guided and driven by certain ideas but Narainji of course, I don’t think is going toas it happens my colleagues did not share make any difference in the present state of those ideas. But a majority of affairs. Even if I join, despite this feeling of Parliamentarians do share it. They all mine, I don’t think I will be able to achieve come from the village. We had won these anything at all. elections in the name of the village, the farmer, the unemployed young people and In fact when I gave up the Congress and in the name of Gandhi. We had won on formed the BKD—although the immediate the symbol of the BKD, in the name of the 22 Haldhar, in the name of the kisan—the no moral right to complain. As far as the poor kisan. It was against corruption, President of the Party is concerned I have against unemployment, against the widening no right to complain. It was Raj Narainji disparities in our economy and against the and I who put forward his name. The concentration of property. But above all,same is the case with the PM. So we have it was against corruption. no moral right to complain. That is also one of the reasons why I am keeping quiet. We have not been able to achieve any Whom will I complain to, it is my own of these aims and I am afraid we are not doing or undoing, call it anything. likely to achieve any of these aims in the future also. If the Party and the Q : Many of your supporters feel that Government continue to function as theyit is you more than any of these people who have been doing for the last 20 months, wiil be asked to explain by the people, by there is little hope...... the masses.... Q : About corruption...... A : Before that occasion arises, I will be one with the people again, Raj Narainji A : As you know, I am handicapped is already going amongst them. He speaks by another thought. It is I who is more on behalf of himself, on behalf of all my responsible for the present state of things colleagues, all those who think alike with than any one else. Do you follow ? As mefar and on behalf of me also. So it is not as the Prime Minister is concerned, I have that I am divorced from the Janata.

23 5

CHARAN SINGH’S ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL THOUGHTS

SPHERE are two main causes of our failureimports till date and, for want of both food on the economic front: misallocation and raw materials, our industry and other of financial outlays between industry and non-agricultural employment have not agriculture and introduction, rather developed. In 1951, 72 per cent of our remultiplication, of the big machine. So, workers were employed in agriculture, 10 there are two main remedies: revision of the per cent in industry, and 18 per cent in the allocation in favour of agriculture and rest of the economy ; exactly the same discarding of the big machine to the extent proportion obtains today. So far as possible. The former involved top emphasisnational income per capita is concerned, on rural development and the latter, a our country is one of the very poorest. decision to switch over to self-reliance to theWhat is still more alarming, our rate of exclusion of foreign capital and foreign economic growth is almost the lowest. In technology—an economy that is directed the international sphere, we enjoy the by our factor endowment. reputation of a beggar. Neglect of agriculture is, so to say, the Second, we committed the mistake of “original sin” of the planners of India’s setting of our sights too high and, on destiny. Neglect of agriculture meant lack attainment of political power, immediately of agriculture surplus, that is, lack of foodfell for heavy industry. Gandhi wanted to and raw materials. For want of adequate build the country from the bottom upwards food production we have had to spend an on the strength of its own resources with amount of Rs. 6,000 crores or more on foodthe village or agriculture and handicrafts as 24 the base and the town or a few large-scale refers not only to the United States, Great industries, that we must inevitably have, as Britain and Germany but also to France, the apex. We forgot that development ofItaly, Canada and so on. The opposite India’s economy or a rise in the living course of development in Russia and Japan standard of its vast millions will have to was due to exceptional historical conditions. take place within the framework of its own In Russia after Peter the Great, Japan after factor endowment (in other words, within the Meiji Restoration industrialization was the limitations set by its lowland or natural promoted and largely controlled by the resources-man ratio) and of democratic Government and subordinated to its political freedoms which prevent exploitation of itsaims. In both countries heavy industry was own working force beyond a point. The pushed ahead as the basis of military power present situation can therefore be remedied rather than the foundation of further by a shift of resources from the metropolitan,industrialization. The Soviets in Russia and industrialized, capital-intensive and the military party in Japan on the eve of centralised production based on the World War II took over and carried forward purchasing power of upper-middle classes tothis policy with increased ruthlessness. agriculture, employment-oriented and decentralised production which, in Gandhi’s Looked at more critically, it is telling words, is “not only for the masses agriculture, and agriculture alone which is but also by the masses”. the “root and base” of economic progress. A country will go on developing only to In most countries, the development of the extent supply of food and raw materials both agriculture and labour-intensive available from land allows it. Unless the industries, which Mahatma Gandhi had farmers produce more than their needs, they advocated, came first and this policy has will have nothing to sell and, therefore, no paid them handsome dividends. Japan wherewithal to buy. This means that in the provides the most prominent examples; evenabsence of increased agricultural production, mainland China has been following it since there will be even no trade and no 1962 (with the important difference that handicrafts. farming is collectivised). This is the only way that a large and labour-surplus country,As already pointed out, there can be no particularly India, can solve the employment-improvement in the living standards of poverty problem for the mass of the people,people, no economic development of a while simultaneously building the heavy country, unless surpluses of food and raw industry it ought to have. materials are available within the country itself (or, their supply in exchange of Heavy industry and specially heavy- manufacturers is assured from outside). Not machine-making industry has never been the only that, the speed and scope or pattern of ‘root of the base’ of economic growth. Theits industrialization depends on the rate basis of economic growth in the early phaseand amount of the surpluses a country is of industrialization was agriculture, trade able to realise. Circumstances of a country and handicrafts. In all the great industrial like India where the land-man ratio is low, powers except the USSR and Japan, heavy where labour is relatively abundant and industry grew on the basis of consumer capital scarce, that is men are cheaper than goods industries responding to their demand machines, call for an economy in which and adjusting itself to their needs. This hand-operated industries or handicrafts and 25 cottage industries will predominate. When heavy and large-scale mechanized industries agricultural productivity goes up, resultingshould come in course of time as the apex in a further increase of farm incomes and, of an economic structure with agriculture consequently, a higher demand for and handicrafts or village industries as its manufactured goods, a cumulative processbase. is set in motion, that is more and more industries are set up and the industrialization In India, progress has to be measured that has already been offered itself becomes not by the quantity of steel or number of a cause rather than merely remain a automobiles and television sets that we are consequence of increase in incomes. able to manufacture but by the quantity and quality of basic necessities of life like food, There being a great diversity of human cloth, houses, health, education etc. that wants, various industries, particularly thosebecome available to “the last man”, as which are mutually complementary, that is,Gandhi used to say. Assigning priority to which provide a market for, and thus heavy industry in India and other similarly support each other—and most industries fallsituated countries means retardation of under this definition—begin to spring up oneagricultural development, food shortages, after another, and per capita incomes go on and dependence on imported food. increasing further and further. There are several countries in the Gradually, a point is reached where developing world also, with no better (owing to growth of various kinds of natural resources than India, where jobs are industries and services) labour becomes plentiful and the poor are creating wealth, relatively scarce and capital abundant, that where fewer babies are dying and everyone is, when men cease to be cheaper but is becoming literate. Among these countries, become dearer than machines. It is at this democratic in political complexion, are stage, a stage in which India will take very Taiwan, Israel, Puerto Rico and Egypt. long to arrive, that an economy takes on aThe question arises : "Why is it, then, that character or develop into one where India is till floundering in poverty, and machine-operated takes on mechanized misery and has not been able to forge industries will predominate. The progression ahead ?” Obviously our policies have been from handicrafts to mechanized industries faulty and need to be revised. This involves from labour-intensive techniques to capital-shedding of certain fallacies that have been intensive techniques is governed by the rate fostered for too long. at which farm surpluses are available or capital becomes available relatively to To mention only one or two of the labour that is released from, or no longer fallacies : many people believe that large required in, agriculture. As cottage and farms produce and employ more people than small-scale industries grow on the basis of small farms. In fact, small farms produce agricultural surpluses, mainly in the formmore and employ more per acre than large of good and raw materials, so will grow mechanized farms—small and cottage mechanized industries on the basis of industries produce more and employ more cottage and small-scale industries, per unit of capital investment than big responding to their demand and adjusting urban factories equipped with the latest themselves to their needs. So then in our machines. It is land in the field of circumstances of a dense agrarian economy agriculture and capital in the field of 26 industry that are the limiting therefore in enterprises, again served by cooperatives, India and, as every student of economics where necessary, in the field of manufacturing knows, should therefore be utilised to the industry. Such an economy will produce maximum. What is more, there is no more goods, provide more employment, other democratic method of ensuring curb income disparities and promote a economic growth with social justice. democratic way of life. Economic Philosophy Our : economists Urban-Rural Relationship: The ‘colonial* and planners perhaps do not take into relationship which has developed between account Indian conditions but are influenced towns and villages will disappear only when by the theories of Karl Marx who concludedconsumer goods, ranging from soap to cloth, without due examination of facts that the are both produced and sold in villages. laws regarding industrial development at which he had arrived applied to agriculture Mechanisation o f Agriculture If : also. agriculture has to be mechanised, it should be mechanised, as Gandhi pointed out, with There is need for India to develop an machines that supplement human effort and alternative to the two extreme forms—a ease or lighten its burden rather than capitalistic democracy as it originally supplant it—the Japanese style of farm developed in the western countries and machinery. democratic centralism as practised in communist countries Capitalism and Communism The : capitalists are not happy with me because Private Sector: The private sector I am considered anti-heavy industry. Then representing capitalism calls for a highly take the communists. They are against me progressive system of taxation and direct because I believe in individual rights and transfer of tax receipts to the needy and for freedoms; and because I don’t believe in public spending on projects that benefit the state ownership of the means of production. poor more than the rich. The Press: Now, it is difficult to call Public Sector: So far as the public me dishonest, nor can anybody call me a sector representing Marxian socialism (or dunce and say that I don’t know anything; shall we say communism) is concerned, its they (the press) can’t say I am not popular, performance, at least in our country, has that I have not done any public work, that been disappointing. While there is no I have not devoted my life to the nation and question of taxation in this sector, it offersmade sacrifices. But then something little or no surplus that may be directly oror the other has to be said, and my caste indirectly transferred to the poor and the comes handly—this is all they can do. So, underemployed. it all boils down to this—that the man who should be sitting in a village and ploughing Rural Economy: India’s purpose will be the field is not fit to be a political leader. served best by an economy which consists He must be pulled down. of small independent peasant-farms interlinked by service cooperatives in the Nehru: His (Nehru’s) heart was bent -field of agriculure and subject to certain upon establishment of an industrial structure exceptions mainly of cottage and small-scaleon the lines of the USA and the USSR and, 27 to that end, he decided to go hammer and Bureaucracy The : present bureaucracy tongs, both for foreign capital and foreign is fast developing into a hereditary caste and technology as also to divert all possible the doors of the higher echelons of domestic resources to heavy industry evengovernment employment are virtually closed at the cost of food, water, clothing, housing,to the sons of those who are outside the education and health. charmed circle, particularly the villages. Being Anti-Nehru (Laughingly) : That’s because I had an ambition to become the Railwaymen’s Bonus: Before clamouring prime minister. It was when I was revenue for any increase in their emoluments, public minister in Uttar Pradesh—it was a powerful employees must first establish a reputation portfolio—and Nehru wanted to introduce for service, courtesy and responsiveness to cooperative farming. I did not agree with the common man which is sadly lacking him and he became angry with me. That today. was the reason why politics in Uttar Pradesh took a particular turn in the next decade. Prohibition I :don’t drink. I will try He elevated a man who was twice defeated to desist you (journalists) by law from in succession in the assembly elections rather drinking. than have me as the chief minister. And he said, Charan Singh is a reactionary! And Jan Sangh: So far as the Jan Sangh is I was called ambitious. You know, I have aconcerned, it has no economic ideology of dream of a world order where all people its own. So they have accepted our views live together in peace. Now, I would like avidly. There is no question of ideology to be prime minister of that world govern­ involved in our differences with the ment (laughter). Jan Sangh.

28 6

KISAN POWER

T^HE unexpected success of the Kisan release from Tihar jail as a “tremendous rally has given rise to the hope that the success”, has effectively proved that Charan peasantry, if organised, can be a political Singh has a mass following among the force. It is likely kisans will shape as the peasants in the North. It has given him most powerful single factor to determine the strength and confidence he needed to the outcome of Parliamentary and Assemblyfight the battle initiated after his elections. Emerging as the powerful leader “expulsion” from the Cabinet on June 29, of this movement is Chaudhry Charan 1978. Singh. Charan Singh makes it clear, while addressing a meeting or talking to newsmen, It is not certain whether Charan Singh that his battle is not entirely political. In will compose his differences with the Prime an interview with me some days ago he Minister or join the Union Cabinet talked particularly about the social and following the unity efforts now going on.economic issues involved in the battle. At But what is certain is that he will work for the same time be told me about the hurt the acceleration of the Kisan movement Moraijibhai has caused him by formally launched in Delhi on his 77th ignominiously turning him out of the birthday, December 23 last year. Cabinet. He also referred to his willingness to go to any length to maintain the unity of The massive kisan rally, which even the party. “You know, I went to see him Mrs Indira Gandhi described soon after her thrice,” he said. 29 A Major Effort and spoke ill of his political rivals. Charan Singh said that several leaders of The kisan rally has become, as a result the party had demanded his resignation and of the infighting in the Janata Party, a openly made malicious charges against him, major effort in independent India to but no action was ever initiated against organise the farmers, particularly those them. Even when some prominent party possessing small holdings, into a force to leaders worked against the party candidates help a section of the party leaders to in the Samastipur and Fatebpur achieve political power. But, in the parliamentary by-elections, they were not so process, the organised strength of the much as asked to explain their conduct. kisans, if given further momentum, is sure “ How can you then run the party?” he to help them in seeking a solution to the asked. basic problem of socio-economic disparity from which they have suffered for decades. According to some close associates of Charan Singh, when he was removed from The first kisan rally held on December the Cabinet and Morarji Desai refused to 23, 1977, was not considered an important take him back, the idea of organising a event because its objective was only to massive rally of farmers was discussed and celebrate the birthday of Charan Singh canvassed. It was believed that once it who, at that time, was not seriously was conclusively proved that Charan Singh involved in the race for leadership. commanded the loyalty of the peasantry, Mr Desai would be inclined to take him It was because of the non-political back into bis Cabinet. It was also then character of the rally that Nanaji realised that a rally much bigger than the Deshmukh, who is today apparently upset one held in December 1977 was not only by the organisation of fanners under the possible but that it could be utilised to start leadership of Chaudhry Saheb, had presided a movement to create a powerful platform over it. In his speech on the occasion he from which the demands for the solution of called him a leader of the farmers. Even the problems of peasants could be made the Foreign Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, effectively. addressed the rally. Obviously the Jan Sangh members of the Janata Party those The All-India Kisan Sammelan, set up days did not have the kind of strained in December 1977, was activised and given relations they have today with Charan the responsibility of organising the rally in Singh. Party President Chandra Shekhar the month of September. It was, however, was also invited to attend the rally but he claimed that the rally had nothing to do did not go on one pretext or another. Since with the political crisis Charan Singh was then the impression has gained ground that facing. It was said that he would only Chandra Shekhar and Charan Singh belong address the rally. But it was difficult to to two different schools of thought. dissociate him from the rally. His lieutenant, Mr Raj Narain, was the That Charan Singh continues to be President of the Sammelan and major unhappy with Chandra Shekhar was clearly decisions about the rally were taken at the established when the former told me in the residence o f Charan Singh. The date for interview that the Party President had never holding the rally was postponed several taken action against those who criticised times till it was decided that it should 30 synchronise with the 77tb birthday of financial outlays between industry and Charan Singh. It was believed that by that agriculture, and introduction, rather time the situation would turn in favour of multiplication, of the big machine. So there Charan Singh and the rally would provide are two main remedies : revision of the an occasion to celebrate his victory. But allocations in favour of agriculture and this did not happen. Now what was discarding of the big machine to the extent expected to happen by December 23 last possible” . year, it is fervently hoped, would happen before the former BLD members and their Tardy Development supporters meet in Delhi on January 28 and 29 this year. (Earlier the dates fixed were Charan Singh has decided to go on a February 1 and 2). tour of the country to strengthen the kisan movement and set up branches of the The unexpected success of the kisan All-India Kisan Sammelan in the States. rally has given the organisers considerable His contention is that rural development hope that the peasantry, if properly has been tardy since Independence. Even organised, can provide them with a sound today, he says, 1,16,000 villages do not have political base. They now see that the drinking water. Those who worked organised peasantry will emerge as the most for the farmers are given treatment lower powerful single factor to determine the than that given to the clerks in the city. outcome of the parliamentary and Assembly He holds the IAS officers, belonging mostly elections in favour of those who are to the cities, responsible for the regarded as their leaders. But they also backwardness in the villages, both social know that to secure this political support of and economic. Only 14 per cent of these the farmers they will have to fight for the officers come from a rural background. change of their social and economic lot and The result is that the majority of IAS and get them the benefits of modernisation other services do not have any which today only the urbanites enjoy. It is understanding of rural problems. this fight for the welfare of the farmers, Charan Singh is unhappy that the particularly with small holdings, that is villages have been neglected in the matter of most likely to assume greater importance in roads, transport, health and education. “It the days to come. is a matter of shame”, he says, “ that even toilets have not been provided for the Charan Singh has already built a strong women in the villages”. According to him case for the farmers, though his critics point a proposal was recently finalised to spend out how he is opposed to any major land Rs 16 crores on holding a UN conference reform that is likely to disturb the landed in Delhi. Out of this Rs 1.83 crores would rich (constituting about 7 per cent of the be spent on the renovation of Vigyan land-holding class) which largely controls Bhavan, venue of the conference. “Could the agricultural production and which not this money be allocated for tubewells in enjoys the benefits of rural progress. It is the villages where they are badly needed ?” his strong bias for the rural sector that was he asks. accepted as the economic policy of the Janata Party last year. According to him, It is not that the farmers were not “ there are two main causes of our failure on organised earlier. Even before the economic front: misallocation of Independence, the Congress and some other

31 political parties had tried to bring them North played an important role. Even together on one platform. But the objective Charan Singh concedes that Ranga has was primarily to secure their support for sincerely worked for the welfare of the the political movement against the British farmers and has no political motive to Government. An idea of how Pandit serve. Choudhary Chotu Ram, as Minister Jawaharlal Nehru had sought to arouse of Punjab, did commendable work for political consciousness among the farmers of farmers. Allahabad district in the early years of the freedom struggle is available from his When the Nagpur session of the AICC autobiography. in 19S9 adopted the resolution on cooperative farming, approved by Pandit But more than Panditji it was Jawaharlal Nehru, the supporters of Mr Purshottamdas Tandon who devoted “peasant farming” raised their voice against himself to organising the farmers in Uttar it. Among them were Charan Singh and Pradesh. It was he who led the Kisan N.G. Ranga. In his book, India’s Poverty Sangh as the farmers’ wing of the Congress. and Its Solution, written soon after the According to Charan Singh, the first real Nagpur session, Charan Singh strongly kisan movement in India was launched, defended “peasant farming” against though for a short time, by Sardar cooperative farming which he argued, would Vailabhbhai Patel when he led the Bardoli cause dislocation of the village economy. Satyagraha in Gujarat in 1937. It was for Bhai Kaka, a well-known kisan leader of the first time that the fanners were made Gujarat, formed the Khedat Sangh to fight conscious of the fact that they too could against any attempt to introduce take part in the freedom struggle. cooperative farming. It was the opposition to this farming, likely to be introduced on The fanners’ wing of the CPI was then the initiative of Pandit Nehru that led to known as the Kisan Sabha and that of the the formation of the Swatantra Party in Socialist Party as the Kisan Panchayat. 1959. The lead was taken by Mr Ranga Both parties, however, worked only for the who succeeded in bringing Rajaji into the landless in the village. It was the CPI party and later making him its head. Mr which had spearheaded the Telangana Ranga is today a prominent leader of the movement of 1948. The extremists among Congress (I). the communists then called this movement Khooni Karanti. When compulsory levy was introduced by the Central Government in 1973, the Neglected kisan leaders, particularly in Haryana, launched a struggle against it. In Haryana The concern of political parties for leaders like Devi Lai, Chand Ram and farmers was almost lost after we became Swami Agnivesh organised the farmers independent. It was only in 19SS that an against the levy. It was after a gap of attempt was made afresh to set up an all- about four years that the All-India Kisan India organisation of farmers. The all-India Sammelan was formed in December 1977. Agriculturists Federation was formed by M.R. Arya, now one of the General bringing all provincial bodies in the North Secretaries of the Delhi Pradesh Janata and the South together. N.G. Ranga in the Party, was the spirit behind the Sammelan South and Choudhary Chotu Ram in the then. Several State Chief Ministers like

32 Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, the Mayor of keep this image intact. The more she Delhi, Mr R.K. Gupta, and Nanaji succeeds in winning back the poor in all Deshmukh were closely associated with the communities, the more discomfiture th'e Sammelan of which Raj Narain was Janata Party will suffer. President. Since Charan Singh represents the Even Ranga, who is very close to Mrs classes which have been traditionally Indira Gandhi today, admits that Charan opposed to the Harijans, backward Singh is the sole leader of the farmers, both communities and village artisans and also to of the lower and middle class, in North radical reforms, he has to persuade his India. According to him, Chaudhuri Saheb followers to give up their age-old prejudices will be able to organise the peasants because and help promote social and economic they are more conscious today. “Caste justice for those who have so far been and politics” will have a multiplier effect deprived of it. Only then can he emerge as in creating a force of farmers which can be an unchallenged leader of the teeming used for both political and socio-economic millions in the villages. But even he knows purposes. that it is not easy.

Some other Congress (I) leaders also The prejudices based on the exploitative are aware of the loyalty and support social and economic system for decades Charan Singh enjoys among the upper caste cannot be given up so easily and so quickly. Hindus, small and big land-holding classes Even among the classes that are loyal to and even the landless in the villages. They him there is rivalry against one another. also admit that he has about 20 per cent of Casteism and panchayati politics have for Harijans in the rural areas as his followers. long turned about 30 to 40 per cent of the His campaign for the growth and expansion rural community against the locally of small-scale and cottage industries is dominated kisan leaders. It will perhaps intended to benefit the landless. He wants take several decades of dedicated work the poor and the downtrodden among the among the peasantry to root these peasantry to shift to these industries for prejudices. employment which in turn would help industrialise the country in the real sense. The Two Mass Leaders But even Charan Singh knows that he will not be able to completely alienate the Thus it is clear that today there are Harijans, agricultural labourers and village only two mass leaders, one Indira Gandhi artisans from Mrs. Gandhi. These sections and the other Charan Singh. Fortunately, o f rural society still look upon her as their both represent those sections of society leader. The family planning excesses which have largely remained neglected and committed during the Emergency had which have not been touched by the benefit turned them against her. But following the of the economic progress the country has failures of the Janata Party to deliver the made since 1947. Will not the politics of goods they have gone back to her. Visit to the country undergo a sea change, making places like Belchi has helped restore to major social and economic changes possible, Mrs Gandhi the image she had lost during if Mrs Gandhi and Charan Singh join hands the Emergency. She will do her best to to come into power ?

33 This is a natural question that arises in philosophy, reflected in the 20-point charter, the minds of those who have analysed the becomes the basis of the country’s situation in the country the way it has been development plans ? If his demand for done above. It is this question which led export of agricultural commodities is many of Mrs Gandhi’s supporters to accepted, it will cause inflation which the persuade her to give up her unhappiness country can ill afford today; subsidisation with Charan Singh and seek an alliance with of sale of water, power, fertilisers and seeds him. The possibility of this alliance was to the farmers would result in heavy seen for the first time when Charan Singh budgetary deficit; and urban life will be was undergoing treatment in the All-India disrupted if urban incomes are reduced to Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi raise the rural incomes. It is said that the in June last year. It was then that approach of Mr Charan Singh is such that Mrs Gandhi had sent him a bouquet it would deny resources to modern industry wishing him early recovery. and put a halt to the process of modernisation. In fact, it would cause It was in continuation of that effort stagnation of agriculture as the industry that she again sent him a bouquet on his would not be able to produce the inputs 77th birthday. The day Mrs Gandhi was needed by it. being released from Tihar Jail, a Congress (I) leader, close to her, told me Is It A Realistic Policy ? that the Janata Party would remain in power only for a week. He was sure that The consequences of diverting funds the Desai Government would be thrown out from industry to agriculture appear to be in the next few days by an alliance between serious when we see that the contribution of Mrs Gandhi and Mr Charan Singh. The the industrial sector to the GNP has been decision of the National Executive of the about 77 per cent against only 33 per cent Janata Party to win back Charan Singh by the agricultural sector. If the emphasis might have dampened the enthusiasm of the has to be shifted from industry to Congress (I) leaders but they have not given agriculture, what would happen to the up the hope. investment of about Rs 68,000 crores made in the private and public sectors since 1947 ? The way Charan Singh and his close The role of small and cottage industries has associates have begun building up the kisan also not been considered encouraging. movement, covering not only the land- Forty-six per cent of these industries are holding class but also those whom he calls today managed by big industrial houses and ‘‘kamgaris” (agricultural labourers and some multinationals. About Rs 38,000 village artisans), has naturally caused a crores have been invested in this sector fierce debate on agriculturevs industry and since 1947 but its contribution to the GNP brought the clash between the urbanites and is only 12 per cent. How can these ruralites into sharp focus. There is no industries create jobs and maintain the rate denying the fact that his strong critics are of economic growth if the expansion of those who believe that an industry-based heavy industries is brought to a standstill ? economy alone suits the country. Can the nation wait and suffer the setback to its progress till Charan Singh’s economic What, according to them, will be the policy begins giving the results he assures, consequences if Charan Singh’s economic assuming that his policy is realistic ? 34 Countering these arguments, Charan languages as media of examination for the Singh says that the opposition to his IAS and other Central Services is definitely economic thought comes from three going to bring in more youths from the sections : first, the big industrialists who villages into the higher echelons of have benefited most from the Plan administration. No longer will public allocations made since the First Five-Year school education be considered important Plan; second, organised sections of for an administrative post. The new employees in urban areas who fear that the administrators with a rural background and organised kisans would deny the gains they ethos will change social values and norms. have been making; and, third, urbanites who do not want to share the benefits of — Illustrated Weekly of India modernisation with the rural people. International Comment on the Kisan Rally Parity of price is going to be the main demand of the kisan movement. Once it is The Guardian (Manchester—England): accepted, economic priorities will have to Peter Niesewand writes : “On his 77th be recast and certain fundamental changes birthday on December 23, Charan Singh made in economic structure. The kisan, called a rally of his supporters and it turned under the leadership of Charan Singh, is out to be the biggest ever held in New going to demand higher prices for his Delhi...... ” produce to pay the heavy charges for fertilisers and power, and to be subsidised Far Eastern Economic Review (Hong by the Government. Kong) : “On December 23 Charan Singh and his aides were able to draw between No longer will the farmers remain idle 600,000 and one million farmers...... The for nine months in a year. The landless kisan (farmer) rally has demonstrated that and the poor will not be economically no other leader commands the popular exploited as they would get jobs in these backing in the manner that Charan Singh industries. And the pressure on the land does.” will be considerably reduced, thus accelerating agricultural production. The National Comment on the Kisan Rally agricultural labourers and workers in small-scale industries will also get higher The Fortnight (New Delhi) : “ It is the wages though a sense of competition may biggest rally of its kind in recent memory, develop between them and the peasants as and it gives birth to what could well be a there is today between the city dweller and vital organised new force in India’s body the peasant. politics.” The kisan movement is also sure to The Tribune (Chandigarh): bring about some basic social changes. An “ WORLD’S BIGGEST RALLY.” economically rich and educated youth from The Sunday Statesman (Delhi) : the rural area will no longer suffer from “ MOST PEACEFUL RALLY.” the discrimination he faces today. This will mean a vast social and psychological change TWO HISTORIC DOCUMENTS : in attitude. The city-bred will not be able KISAN MANIFESTO FOR A GANDHIAN to claim higher service as their exclusive ECONOMY : moved by Mr Rabi Ray and preserve. The introduction of regional seconded by Mr S.N. Misra.

35 DECLARATION ON THE STATE OF cottage industries, dairies, fisheries, rural THE ECONOMY AND CHARTER OF electrification...” “ 1. Implementation of DEMANDS : moved by Mr. R.K. Amin economic policy by Janata Party. and seconded by Mr. M.R. Bagri. 2. Correction of imbalance between Industry and Agriculture. 3. Export Import policy in From the Kisan Manifesto : “The accordance with Agricultural needs. tendency to exploit the rural sector has 4. Representation for farmers. gained a new momentum and the personal 5. Agricultural inputs at low prices. wealth and the social advancement of a few 6. Holdings below 1.25 hectares—tax people in the countryside cannot hide the exemption. 7. Buffer stocks and fact that the vast majority of India’s rural implementation of support prices. population have suffered serious setbacks to 8. Removal of excise duties. 9. Planning their economic status” ...... “We the KISANS from below. 10. Income disparity between OF INDIA, from Kashmir to Kanya rural and urban to be reduced to 1 : 1.5. Kumari and from Dwarka to Kamakhya 11. Genuine service by develoment blocks hail the inspiring vision of a new social to farmers. 12. Agricultural polytechnics order given by Chaudhry- Charan Singh, and in every district. 13. Kisan banks. are determined to organise our full capacity 14. Representation to women at every for a direct attack on mass poverty through level of panchyati raj. 15. Irrigation rural mobilisation on a scale which will budget 20% of investment. 16. 50% of make our movement a glorious chapter in additional electricity for rural areas. the history of mankind.” 17. Implementation of land reforms. 18. Work guarantee schemes. 19. Republic From the Charter of Demands : “We bodies for decentralisation of economic and demand parity in prices in order to make political power. 20. Honourable place the terms of trade more favourable to the for women in Indian society. farmers without delay” . “We propose that a KISAN BANK be established which What are the Precepts of Chaudhry would give credit from 4 to 6 per cent Charan Singh ? throughout the country and would also convert credits taken at existing exhorbitant From the Kisan Manifesto : “The rates. The low costs of credit would be precepts of Chaudhry Charan Singh based extended also to the cottage and other upon a penetrating study of the actual labour intensive industries” . “We the conditions of the Indian countryside, and KISANS OF INDIA will defend our his personal commitment to the eradication democracy but we are fighting now to have of corruption in public life are the precious democracy in the field of economy also...” possession of the millions who have joined “We demand opportunities for increased to meet the challenge of national resurgence agricultural production in national interest through the uplift of India’s rural through a system of adequate prices”. “All population.” unnecessary controls, restrictions, requirements of sanctions...... should be abolished” . “Financial resources should be diverted for the development of agriculture, irrigation, roads, tubewells, dams, bridges, warehouses, cold storages, small and

36 7

THE RATIONALE OF A REVOLT BY CHARAN SINGH

IVrOW that the dust of the race for securing Congress (O), only after its leader, ’ the vote of Members o f Parliament Morarji Desai, had been released and he saw has settled down, I would like to draw the immediate prospects of power in the attention of the people to certain milestones announcement of parliamentary elections on the political canvas of the country during that the Government of India had the recent years. simultaneously made.

In 1974 and 197S, my colleagues and I Popular faith shattered o f the Bharatiya Lok Dal (BLD) requested the leaders of the Jan Sangh, the We, particularly of the BLD, had Congress (O) and the Socialist Party a entertained dreams of replacing the political hundred times to join hands with us in setup that existed in 1976 by one which was forging a united political organisation, by and large inspired by the teachings of consisting of the then existing democratic Gandhiji, especially those which had a parties. But none of them would respond. bearing on the questions of individual Had they done so, perhaps the country freedom, poverty, unemployment, would have been spared the pains of the concentration of economic power and Emergency. integrity in public life.

The Jan Sangh and the Socialist Party The people of the country, particularly came round only after they had been thrown in the northern parts, gave us a vote of behind the prison bars, and the confidence which was, perhaps, unparalleled

37 in the annals of democracy. To our regret, Delhi on the occasion of my birthday on however, all these dreams were shattered December 23, 1977, and on the same date in soon. 1978, the Prime Minister saw a threat to his high office. No worker of the Janata Party—if ever there was a “janata party” in existence in In order to checkmate this imaginary the true sense of the term—could claim that threat, he increasingly leaned on the RSS his Government had succeeded in cleansing and adopted other attitudes which only public life, in improving the administration served to encourage communal trends in of the country or giving a new hope to the our society that will disrupt it still further masses. instead of welding it into a stronger or more homogeneous whole. Misconduct in high places Inordinate lust for power On the contrary, there are hard facts about the conduct of more than one bigwig All these failures and shortcomings in the party and its Government at the could be traced to one single cause—that is, Centre which would make every Indian while he did not entertain any vision about hang his head in shame but, inasmuch as the future of the country or nurse any truth will always be out sooner or later, I ambitions about its prosperity or role in the leave it to time to narrate the story of this comity of nations, Moraiji Desai had misconduct in high places. developed an inordinate desire to stick to power, at least till 1982, and wanted to be Owing to lack of understanding and left in peace till then. political will on the part of the Janata Government’s leadership, the country had He could not, therefore, take bold been brought to the brink of economic and decisions, nor could he reshuffle his Cabinet administrative chaos which was never which the dictates of efficiency and integrity witnessed before. so clearly demanded. ^

The Government bad little or no rapport After my reindaction into the Cabinet with the masses, particularly the poor, the on January 24, 1979, the Prime Minister weak or the downtrodden and, therefore, and his chief lieutenants saw to it that my was not aware of the stirrings of their co-workers of the erstwhile BLD were hearts. Morarji Desai is, by nature, systematically decimated—removed from incapable of wiping out the tears from ■ positions of power in the States and any eye. eliminated altogether from the party organisation. Morarji leaned on BSS prop Ouster of BLD stalwarts Lastly, in the extraordinary success which the Janata Party achieved in the Those who had made little or no elections to Parliament in March 1977 from contribution to the emergence of the Janata the northern part of the country that was Party decided to kick away the ladder on the my special charge, and in the extraordinary strength of which they had ascended the gatherings of villagers that converged on pinnacles of power.

38 J i t The Prine Minister Chaudhry Charan Singh is seen with Deputy Prime Minister Hr. Y.B.Chavan, Opposition leader fir. 3agjiuan Ra« and Hr, C,M,Stephen at PM s Office in Parliament House,

The Janata (S) President Mr. Raj Narain and the Prime Minister Chaudhry Charan Singh The two Chief Ministers belonging to Raj Narain ousted on false excuse the erstwhile BLD group, Ram Naresh Yadav of UP, and Karpoori Thakur of The Ad Hoc State Committee appointed Bihar, were overthrown at the initiative of by the Chairman in 1977 was another the Centre. The way a meeting of the eloquent testimony to his sense of prejudice dissident Haryana legislators was convened against the erstwhile BLD. The idea behind at the house of the Prime Minister on June the constitution of the various organs of 6, came as the last straw on the camel’s the Janata Party was to equate one back. constituent with another and everybody with everybody else, irrespective of merits Drunk with power, the Prime Minister or the past record. went to the extent of exhorting the Haryana Raj Narain had been ousted in June, leaders to keep firm and united in their 1978, on a false and ridiculous excuse. resolve to oust Devi Lai. Understandably enough, he became somewhat bitter and I had to publicly Rampant bias and discrimination differ from him more than once. I never complained against the disciplinary action To give one more example of that was taken against him. discrimination out of so many, no report was submitted by, nor any questions asked, In contrast to this, the people will of a senior Jan Sangh Minister who had recollect that although about 100 legislators been deputed by the Janata Parliamentary of UP, belonging to the Jan Sangh and Board at my instance to enquire into serious Chandra Shekhar’s group, had voted against allegations against the Chairman of the the Janata Government of the State on a Party, Chandra Shekhar, and the Jan Sangh money bill in March last, they were none Chief Minister of Rajasthan for the worse for it. No disciplinary action manoeuvring the election of their own men was taken against them at all. from the Bihar and Rajasthan Assemblies, respectively, for the Rajya Sabha at the The attitude of our friends, reflected in cost of defeat of the official candidates in the above acts, has to be contrasted with the early part of the current year. three hard facts : (A) It was virtually the BLD leadership that brought the Janata So far as our position in the party Party into existence, despite the reluctance organisation was concerned, of the election of the other constituents, (B) It was I who panels constituted by the Chairman of the was more instrumental in raising the Prime Party in November 1978, the erstwhile BLD Minister to his august office than anybody constituent did not find a place in the else in the Janata Party, as a result whereof Central Election Panel and the two State I earned the hostility of some powerful panels of Gujarat and Rajasthan at all. elements in the party and, (C) Severally, the erstwhile BLD occupied a far wider place Whereas in the UP panel, out of six in the affections of the people than any other members, one member was allotted to the constituent of the party. BLD, and two to the former Congress (O) Overwhelmed by events which was able to secure only 10 seats out of 425 in the Assembly elections of 1974 My co-workers and a few like-minded and whose leader had forfeited his security. friends, therefore, met on June 21 in Delhi

39 just to survey the present scene and before my co-workers and the people all my contemplate the future that awaited them. life, is far different from the one that Much against my wishes, I was asked to Morarji Desai exemplifies. spell out a strategy for self-preservation. Janata harmed public cause Few people will believe it when I tell them that I never imagined, much less Finally a no-confidence motion, which planned, the turn or shape that the political the Opposition tabled on July 9, provided events in Delhi have taken since July 9. As an opportunity to my friends and recently as June 24,1 had publicly co-workers which I could not prevent them reprimanded my closest friend, Raj Narain, from availing. for having made a statement which, in my opinion, was likely to warp the image of Public memory being short, I am the Janata Party. putting only a few facts on record so that they might be enabled to make a correct I had not yet been able to thrash out appreciation of the political situation that the steps that were necessary to undo the obtains in the country today. injustice under which the erstwhile BLD were smarting when I was overwhelmed by Much more has been done by the events which eroded my pull or influence custodians of public interest during the last with them almost completely. 28 months to harm public cause than anybody can imagine or relate. Kanti scandal was last straw BLITZ Weekly, August 4, 1979 The Prime Minister went on to remark at a press conference on June 26 in the context of Raj Narain’s resignation from the Janata Party that if other members of the erstwhile BLD also left the party, they would do so at their peril and it would make no difference to the stability of his Government. How this observation inflicted a wound that was difficult to heal or forget !

Secondly, facts which came to light as a result of the raids made by officers of the Finance Ministry at the office premises of of P. N. Balasubramaniam on June 4 and 6, pointing to the complicity of the Prime Minister’s son, Kantilal Desai, in his business deals bronght the Government down greatly in the estimation of my friends and the public in general.

The image of a Prime Minister, in fact o f any public worker that I have projected

40 8

FIRST PEASANT PRIME MINISTER OF INDIA

HTHE search for a successor to President’s mind when he offered Prime Mr Morarji Desai, the first non-Congress Ministership to M r Charan Singh. The Prime Minister of India, who resigned on President’s letter to Charan Singh said : “I July IS, unable to face a no-confidence trust that in accordance with the highest motion in the Lok Sabha, ended last week democratic traditions and in the interest of when President Sanjiva Reddy invited Mr establishing healthy conventions you would Charan Singh, leader of the break-away seek a vote of confidence in the Lok Sabha Janata group, to form a government. The at the earliest possible opportunity, say by President made the offer to Mr Charan the third week of August 1979.” Singh, who had formed an alliance with the As he came out of Rashtrapati Bhavan, Congress, after an examination of the rival after receiving the letter of assignment, the claims made by him and Mr Desai following Prime Minister-designate appeared to be Congress leader Y. B. Chavan’s inability to confident of fulfilling the democratic norms form a government. prescribed by President Reddy. He listed his priorities as eliminating unemployment The scrutiny showed that Mr Charan and poverty to the extent possible, Singh had a larger backing of Lok Sabha narrowing down the gap between the rich members (262) than Mr Desai (236), and poor, and building a healhy, classless implying that even Mr Charan Singh did society. not have an absolute majority in the House which had an effective strength of S39. These programmes, he said, had been This inadequacy was very much in the conceived by him earlier. Now it would be

41 his first duty to create an atmosphere for government had succeeded in cleansing integrity in public life and in which the public life, in improving the administration people did not fell choked and restrained. of the country or giving a new hope to the “My being Prime Minister will obviously masses. On the contrary, there are hard mean more money for agriculture and the facts about the conduct of more than one villages and, above all, it will mean more bigwig in the party and its government at honesty among public servants” . To the the Centre which would make every Indian 77-year-old Kisan leader, it was as if “the hang down his head in shame but, inasmuch ambition of my life has been fulfilled” . as truth will always be out sooner or later, I leave it to time to narrate the story of this Straight from Rashtrapati Bhavan, misconduct in high places.” Mr Charan Singh drove to Mr Chavan’s house and invited the Congress Party to join Eleven days after Mr Desai submitted his government. his resignation as Prime Minister, the political impasse in New Delhi had The outgoing Prime Minister, continued with President Sanjiva Reddy Mr Morarji Desai, said the President’s unable initially to decide who enjoyed the decision to invite Charan Singh to form a support of the majority of the members in government would sanctify defections. the Lok Sabha. But after the withdrawal “The process of political defections has of two of the aspirants for Prime acquired a holy grab today,” M r Desai said. Ministership from the arena—M r Y. B. According to Mr Chandra Shekhar, Janata Chavan (Congress) and Mr Jagjivan Ram President, Mr Reddy’s decision was (Janata)—the battlelines had become clear tantamount to putting a premium on and sharp between Mr Desai, solidly backed defection which had been deplored by all by the Janata Party, and Mr Charan Singh sections of the people. backed by the Janata (S), Congress and Congress (I). Mrs Indira Gandhi did not try to conceal her happiness at the fall of the After Mr Chavan, who had been asked Desai Ministry. She said her party had by the President to form an alternative been campaigning for a change in the Government, expressed his inability to do government. “ I am glad the Janata Party so. President Sanjiva Reddy asked both is gone” , she said. Mr Desai and Mr Charan Singh to submit to him lists of their supports to enable him At his first Press conference, to come to a conclusion as to which of the M r Charan Singh made it abundantly clear rival combinations would be able to provide that there was no question of the Congress a stable Government. But when the lists (I) participating in the government. Reports were submitted by the two contenders, it of his secret meeting with Mrs Gandhi were did not make the task of the President any an “unmitigated lie” , he said. easier.

In a scathing attack on Mr Desai’s For, both the lists claimed the support performance, Mr Charan Singh said : “ No . of 279 Lok Sabha members. In a House worker of the Janata Party—if ever there with an effective strength of 538 members, was a ‘Janata Party’ in existence in the true and with at least 38 of them (belonging to sense of the term—could claim that his the CPM, the RSP, the Forward Block and 42 the Akali Dal) declaring that they were M r Charan Singh. The list of Mr Desai’s neutral in the tussle between Mr Desai and supporters was brought to Rashtrapati M r Charan Singh it was clear that there was Bhavan as the deadline of 48 hours set by a substantial overlapping between the two the President to the rival contenders was lists. drawing to a close. Even then the documents by way of supporting evidence were not presented along with the list. What would the President do ? Since According to reports, Mr Desai made an there was no precedent, it was pointed out unsuccessful attempt for extension of time that the President would have to innovate from President Reddy. Mr Charan Singh and the process could be sending out lost no time in taking advantage of this summons to the common members figuring secretarial lapse on the part of Janata, and in the two lists to parade at Rashtrapati wrote to the President requesting him not to Bhavan or seeking the assistance of Speaker admit any supporting evidence as the K.S. Hegde to ascertain the final views of deadline for submitting documented claims the members concerned either through was over. balloting or interviews. From all available accounts, the contest between Mr Desai To the Janata Party, already weakened and Mr Charan Singh appeared to be very by the exodus to the Janata (S), more agony close. was in store earlier in the week with Mr Desai refusing to step down from the The Janata experts questioned the leadership of the Parliamentary Party and figures of 92 for Janata-S, 15 Socialists, 75 Mr. Jagjivan Ram at one time staking a Congress and two Muslim League members claim for leadership. But strong pressure shown on Mr Charan Singh’s list. They from their supporters culminated in the two pointed out that the Socialists with Mr leaders reconciling their differences. This Charan Singh (meaning the George paved the way for Mr Jagjivan Ram Fernandes group) had no more than 10 with declaring that he would not come in the them while six among the 75 Congress way of Mr Morarji Desai forming a members and four of Janata-S’s 92 are government. After a meeting with Mr claimed to have already switched their Desai, Mr Jagjivan Ram said : “We are support to Mr Desai. As for the two both one and together.” Muslim League members, they pointed out, only one could participate in voting, the Yet another move was made by the other being involved in an election petition. Janata leadership to attract MPs to its fold, this related to the thorny issue o f dual Similar doubts about Mr Desai’s membership. At the instance of Mr Desai, supporters were raised by the alliance the RSS leadership agreed to amend its experts. They questioned Janata’s claimed constitution debarring members of support of 11 independents and United Parliament and State legislatures from Parliamentary Group members and the 22 taking part in the day-to-day activities of listed under an omnibus heading of the RSS. According to RSS general “ different parties” . secretary Rajendra Singh, the amendment would be brought before the Akhil Bharatiya M r Raj Narain presented to the Pratinidhi Sabha, the general council of the President’s Secretary the list on behalf of RSS, soon. Janata President Chandra

43 Shekhar said those of his party members Once Mrs Gandhi’s support to who had left on the ground of the former Mr Charan Singh became known, Jan Sangh members’ links with the RSS opposition within the Congress party to its should now have no difficult in returning to alliance with the Janata (S) leader was the Janata fold. growing. Senior members of the party, including Dr Karan Singh and Mr T.A. Pai, A subsiantial gain for the Janata during and five MPs from Andhra Pradesh and a week of intense political activity was the Karnataka wanted a meeting o f the support of the AIADMK w.hich has 18 Parliamentary Party to be called “ to discuss members in the Lok Sabha. the alliance in depth” . By joining the Even when the Presidential offer to alliance they would be backing a Mr Chavan to explore the possibilities of government which would be totally forming a government was made, it was dependent for its survival upon Mrs Gandhi. clear that he would not be able to do so. But Mr Chavan took all the four days given In a statement, Mr Charan Singh to him before telling the President that he sought to correct this impression that by had not succeeded in his efforts. Instead, accepting the support of the Congress (I) he said a combination of parties and groups he had done nothing “to compromise my had emerged “which to my mind would be relentless fight against communalism and able to provide a viable and stable authoritarianism”. government”. He was clearly pointing to the alliance headed by Mr Charan Singh. Mr Pai and Dr Karan Singh told newsmen that the Party’s decision had been The Congress Working Committee, taken without the participation of the which met soon after decided to accept Parliamentary Party. On their part, the M r Charan Singh as the leader of the new six MPs asked Mr Chavan to delete their alliance. M r Charan Singh lost no time in names from the list of Congress supporters opening up a dialogue with the Congress (I) which Charan Singh had submitted to the to ensure its support for establishing a President. majority in the Lok Sabha for his alliance. And, the Congress (I) response was total Both the lists, it seemed, contained the and without reservations. The Congress (I) names of the nine A kalis. Mr Raj Narain Parliamentary Board, which considered said Akali leaders had extended support to Mr Charan Singh’s request, offered “whole­ Charan Singh. But a statement issued by hearted” support. The Congress (I) would the Akalis said they had decided to remain not however, join the new government. neutral. And, to observe neutrality. Mr Suijit Singh Barnala and M r Dhanna During the contacts between the two Singh Gulshan had been asked to withdraw sides, a new cordiality and warmth was from Desai’s caretaker Government. evident, indicating that the political wind had completely changed when Mr Charan Meanwhile, the Election Commissioner, Singh emerged from discussions with Mr S.L. Shakdher, said a snap poll to the M r Kamalapati Tripathi and Mr C.M. Lok Sabha could be held in three months Stephen. They were greeted with slogans after Parliament is dissolved and on the like “Long live Mrs Gandhi”, “Long live basis of a “crash programme” for a revision the prospective Prime Minister Charan of the electoral rolls which had become Singh. obsolete by four years. 44 Following is the latest Party position in that timely compromise is the key to the Lok Sabha, according to the Lok Sabha success. Secretariat: For some days after he walked out of Janata 205 the Janata Party, which he himself had Congress 75 helped build two years ago, Charan Singh’s Congress-I 72 future looked quite uncertain. He seemed Janata-S 77 to have gambled for too much with too CPM 22 little in hand. But with H. N. Bahuguna AIADMK 18 and Biju Patnaik leaving the Janata Party Akali Dal 9 to work for him, there was more going for CPI 7 him than otherwise. And then George PWP 6 Fernandes also rushed out of the Janata United Parliamentary Party, in a huff, together with a dozen of Front 5 his Socialist friends. The fate of the RSP 4 Morarji Desai Government was sealed. It Forward Block 3 had lost its majority in the House of the Muslim League 2 People. Morarji Desai hesitated for long National Conference 2 hours even as leaders of different factions Republican (Khobragade within the truncated party kept building up Group) 2 pressures on him to step down as party Independents (include 15 of those leader in favour of Jagjivan Ram or who have left Janata Party but not Chandra Shekhar. Finally, he half satisfied informed the Secretariat of joining them—drove to the Rashtrapati Bhavan in any group) 29 the evening and handed over the resignation Vacancies 5 of his Government to President Sanjiva Speaker 1 Reddy. (But in the party he kept up back TOTAL 544 to the wall fight.)

Overseas Hindustan Times, April 2,1979 That was on Sunday, July 15. Then began the battle for the Prime Ministership Charan Singh Chosen as Prime Minister in right earnest. Charan Singh had by that time drawn some 60 followers out of the The 10-day-long battle for Prime Janata Party in addition to the three groups Ministership has ended in favour o f Charan headed by Bahuguna, Patnaik and Singh, the 77-year-old Ghaziabad lawyer Fernandes, who all totalled another 30 or who has all his life walked in and out of so. There was still much ground to cover political parties, formed and disbanded them to secure majority support in the in search of national recognition. That has 538-member Lok Sabha. The Congress was now taken him to No. 1 Safdarjang Road. expected to extend support to him but The battle was tough and the outcome dissensions seemed to have crept in over never so certain as to give him or his the issue. However, the Congress leadership 82-year-old rival, Morarji Desai, a minute’s responded quickly to the developing respite all these days. Yet, if he has political crisis by offering to cooperate in eventfully overcome great odds, it is mainly evolving an alternative to the care-taker due to his tenacity and his long-held faith Government of Morarji Desai.

45 Rumours Chavan’s Effort

He returned to the meeting with the There was speculation about what President’s letter inviting him to explore the President Sanjiva Reddy would do. Some possibility of forming a viable and stable baseless apprehensions were dispelled, but the President’s references to a “national Government. The CWC meeting ended Government” continued to be discussed. amidst jubilation. Chavan announced to waiting newsmen that he would report It was said the President had suggested that to the President in “three to four days” leaders of parties like Moraiji Desai, Y. B. Chavan and Indira Gandhi and others which meant that be would see what chances should consider the idea, in the absence of there were for the Congress to form the clear alternatives. Exaggerated rumours in Government. Many Congress leaders were this regard, and about the President’s not hopeful, a fact Chavan himself realised interest in it were firmly and officially soon. Chavan called in his associates like scotched from Rashtrapati Bhavan. C. Subramaniam, Hitendra Desai, K.C. Pant and K.P. Unnikrishnan for talks. He asked them to begin negotiations with The situation took a new turn when the Charan Singh’s camp for forming a President sent an invitation to Y. B. Chavan Government under his leadership. When as the leader of the recognised opposition Subramaniam, Pant and Desai took the in the Lok Sabha, to explore the possibility proposal to Charan Singh’s advertisers like of forming a Government. The invitation S.N. Mishra, Raj Narain and R.K. Amin, was considered to be a mere formality and they were surprised that Chavan should a matter of constitutional propriety. Even seek their support to his claim for most Congress leaders considered it as such leadership. After all, they had not but then Chavan took it seriously. The undertaken their own arduous venture to call from the President came when Chavan make Chavan the Prime Minister. They was sitting in a meeting with his Congress told the Congress negotiators at the very Working Committee colleagues at the first meeting that the leadership question Raisina Road office of the AICC. The was not at all negotiable, and that short of telephone call from Rashtrapati Bhavan that they could discuss other issues. came just when the CWC members were Although Subramaniam, Pant, Desai and debating the possible shape of an alternative others made it clear to Chavan after the to the Desai Government, Some of those first few rounds of talks with the Janata-S present had begun suggesting that instead negotiators that they saw no possibility of of lending support to Charan Singh, the Charan Singh ever accepting him as the Congress should itself explore the possibility leader of an alternative Government or of of forming a Government with his help. an alternative emerging without Charan The suggestion looked preposterous to most Singh as its leader. Chavan did not seem other leaders, who felt amused when V. B. to appreciate their point much. In fact, Raju promised to present a list of 120 some of his close friends said that he was supporters (75 Congress MPs plus 45 others feeling rather let down, for he thought that from different parties) only if the other his Congress colleagues were not making leaders would take his suggestion seriously. enough efforts to make him the Prime It was at this stage that Chavan left the Minister. At this stage, V.P. Naik, S.S. meeting to call on the President. Ray and Mohanlal Sukhadia, the three unity 46 protagonists, entered the scene. They also who had also gone to urge her to publicly had hopes that Chavan could be made the declare her support for their leader to Prime Minister only if the Congress was deflate Chavan before he was able to play ready to seize the initiative. They began any mischief. Both the groups felt contacting leaders like Bahuguna and embarrassed. Then both smiled and waved Patnaik to find out whether they would be at each other. “God bless you” , said willing to support Chavan if he was able Sukhadia, waving at Raj Narain and to muster necessary support from other Mishra. parties—which obviously meant the Congress-I. After trying for three days, Chavan came to the conclusion that there was no However, none of the two leaders found use trying to collect a majority behind him. the proposition feasible. The three leaders He gave in on the fourth day before a then went to Indira Gandhi and asked her meeting of the Congress Parliamentary whether she would be willing to help Board. But he was reluctant to suggest Chavan become the Prime Minister. They the name of Charan Singh as a new leader. also told her that her gesture could pave And it was only after several important the way for the eventual unity of the two leaders of the party told him that there was Congresses. However, Indira Gandhi no way out of the impasse but to accept the refused point-blank. She told them that Janata-S leader as the Prime Minister that she had already committed her support to he himself proposed at the CPB meeting Charan Singh. She also made it clear to that the Congress support Charan Singh in them that Chavan stood no chance of being his bid to form a Government. The decision the Prime Minister with the Cong-I backing, was endorsed by the CWC in the afternoon, and also that she would think twice to even hoping to become the leader. He was even let him join a ministry which depended on assured the necessary support by the Jan her party’s support. However, for at least Sangh faction. However, when the Jan two days, they did not give up their hopes Sangh faction suddenly shifted its loyalty to and kept visiting Indira Gandhi every Jagjivan Ram, he felt enraged and changed morning and evening. his own stance. Earlier he was also among those who demanded that Desai step down All this time Indira Gandhi kept her from his office. But once he saw that the options open. Though it was known that Jan Sangh was deserting him, he took a she had committed her support to Charan somersault and began backing Morarji. He Singh as early as in February-March, 197S went to the extent of threatening to resign itself, she did not announce her decision from his party post if Morarji Desai was officially. She was obviously waiting for ousted forcibly. Chavan to reach a deadend before making any public pronouncement on her party’s War of Nerves stand. That Chavan’s emissaries were trying to win Indira Gandhi’s support was The war of nerves between the three soon known to Charan Singh’s camp. In leaders continued for a week, when the fact, while Sukhadia and Naik were coming Jan Sangh suddenly realised that valuable out of Indira Gandhi’s house, they found time was being lost in settling the unseemly themselves face to face with Charan Singh’s controversy in the party. Soon, the Jan lieutenants S.N. Mishra and Raj Narain, Sangh again switched its loyalty to Desai 47 and began pressurising Jagjivan Ram also the Congress and the CPI-M and the to fall in line with it. By that time Forward Block, which withdrew their Jagjivan Ram’s all other options had been support to Charan Singh suspecting that he closed. He had at one time established might have struck a political deal with contacts with Chavan through Mohammed Indira. It appeared at one stage that this Shaii Qureshi, AICC general secretary, and would threaten Charan Singh’s position. A.P. Shinde. But he hesitated for a long But soon it was clear that the solid support time, and by the time he came to realise of the Congress (with 75 members) and the that he had no chance of becoming the Congress-I (with 73 members), together leader in the Janata Party it was too late to with the backing of smaller groups like the open fresh negotiations with the Congress, CPI and the PWP should be sufficient to for the party by then had committed its give him a definite edge over Morarji Desai, support to Charan Singh. At this juncture, who was all this time embroiled in a serious the Jan Sangh brought about an agreement battle with the two claimants for leadership between Desai and Jagjivan Ram. The in the Janata Parliamentary Party— agreement provided that Desai would step Jagjivan Ram and Chandra Shekhar. down from the Prime Ministership and the leadership of the party in favour of Jagjivan For nearly a week, Jagjivan Ram kept Ram after seeing through the current mounting pressures on Morarji Desai from session of Parliament if Jagjivan Ram all sides to force him to make way for him agreed to support him in his attempt to as the JPP leader. The Socialists were foil Charan Singh’s attempt to oust him. already with him. He soon won over the Jan Sangh group also on to his side. As However, even after that the three top Charan Singh kept consolidating his leaders of the party—Morarji Desai, position, everyone in the Janata Party Chandra Shekhar and Jagjivan Ram— began to veer round the point that only found it difficult to collect a majority for Jagjivan Ram, with his strong pull on the party. Jagjivan Ram and Chandra Congressmen (apart from some Janata-S Shekhar came to the conclusion that men) and the Harijans scattered in different members from the Janata-S and the parties). Knowing well how a majority of Congress, particularly the erstwhile partymen had come to depend on him, Socialists, could be won over only after Jagjivan Ram began saying that he could something could be done about the RSS- secure support from outside, but only as the Jan Sangh dual membership issue. leader of the party. He, in fact, told some o f the party leaders that he found his Once that was done, Indira Gandhi manoeuvrability limited because of his took little time to announce her support to “number two” position. Charan Singh. After some preliminary discussions between Charan Singh and It appeared probable that Jagjivan Ram Indira Gandhi’s representatives, the Cong-I would be the winner in what he sought Parliamentary Board announced its after and thus oust Morarji Desai. But unconditional support to him. Chandra Shekhar entered the fray and changed the situation. Ever since The Cong-I announcement made Desai resigned on July 15, Chandra Charan Singh’s position firm, though it Shekhar went to see RSS chief immediately caused serious rumblings in Balasaheb Deoras in Nagpur and pleaded to him to find a way out of the mess to save peasant”. In what has been a rapid change the Janata Party. After intensive in the qualitative aspects of Indian polity, negotiations with the RSS leaders, Chandra the peasant had become king. Shekhar was able to persuade them to promise amendment of the RSS constitution He was a little known peasant leader to debar MPs and MLAs from participating from Uttar Pradesh who walked into the in its day-to-day activities. However, the Home Minister’s office as the new incumbent sap did not work. Not a single member in the aftermath of the historic Janata from any party could be won over by this victory in 1977. Yet for almost a decade desperate gesture, which was characterised before that, he had already moved into the by all the parties as a camouflage. inner periphery of national politics. Since the beginning of the seventies, Mrs Indira Desai, Jagjivan Ram and Chandra Gandhi, then the unquestioned leader of the Shekhar made last-minute desperate efforts nation, had made overtures (sometime to woo the Akalis and some recalcitrant obliquely and other times directly) to this Congress MPs after the AIADMK had ageing peasant chief. agreed to support the Janata Party but failed in their move. On the last day when According to his close confidantes, to they were to submit their list to the he had twice refused to join her. The President, the Desai-men became so fact that he is closely susceptible to the desperate that just to fill the gap they handling of his ego and his pride, comes included the names of as many as through even in these discussions. At least 20 Congress MPs in their list without even part of the blame is squarely placed on the consulting them, all in the hope that emissaries sent by Mrs Gandhi — invariably angered by their party’s association with the men who had been his opponents and who Cong-I, they would switch over to their were thus able to offend him “unknow­ side. Desai and Jagjivan Ram were also ingly” . hoping to win over Devraj Urs to their Fortunately for him, Charan Singh had side. However, all their hopes were dashed by then already worked out the caste and to ground. Even a glance at their list shows class magic that was to make him the most that many of the Janata Party claims were powerful — mass base-wise — member of hollow. Once Charan Singh was found the popular Janata ministry. Gradually to have gathered a larger number of MPs, over the years he had built his constituency. President N. Sanjiva Reddy took little time Unlike the present day belief, it did not con­ to decide his next step. At 5.35 p.m. on sist — at least initially — of the community Thursday, Charan Singh was handed over to which he belonged — the Jats. His most the letter of appointment. loyal supporters were the Yadavs, and other Link, July 29,1979 middle class peasants of eastern Uttar Pradesh. In later years, he was able to The Chaudhry in South Block consolidate his hold on a large cross section When 77 year old Charan Singh walked of the rural population with his projected into the regal officers in South Block it was rural bias, his profoundly rural attitude not merely a change of individuals. He and his pronounced rural mannerisms. wore the same khadi as his predecessors. What was different was that these ornate That he had managed to hit upon some offices were never designed for a “poor latent longing, some powerful under-current 49 of resentment within rural India was evident recollects the past few weeks that brought even during the hectic campaigning for the him to where he is today. According to March ’77 general elections. His public him, he had no hand in what happened, meetings were described by some irreverent “Did any one of you think things would onlookers as “the most boring, yet the most take such a turn one month back ? I avidly listened to” . It was the ancient certainly did not,” asserts a source Charan Singh style, lecturing to the masses particularly close to the present Prime much as a teacher pained at the ignorance Minister. According to him, the Chaudhry of his students, but now it was fulfilling a was most reluctant to break the Janata deep need somewhere in the gutroote of the Party. “ Chaudhury Sahib diassociated Indian countryside. He seemed to them, himself from Raj Narain’s statement and like one of them talking of their basic needs initially disapproved of his leaving the party. and telling them as they understood it. Yes, even he knew that it was but a matter of time before they would all get pushed out This then is the first time that a of it,” he added. member of that forgotten India, the 80 per cent who live in the villages, has escended Having come out of the party, his name the “mighty” Indian throne. The problem shattered, Charan Singh has managed to that arises for the Chaudhry, and for the wrest power from his opponents for the dubiously happy votaries of the 80 per cent, time being. How long can he hang on to is what now? it, no one knowns—not even he himself.

Charan Singh, aged and ailing, still winces in off-guard moments when he Morning Echo (Magazine) August S, 1979

50 9

THE ORDEAL

HAUDHURY Charan Singh showed in the new Government had to deal with was C his first month of power that he was to counter Mrs. Gandhi’s browbeating nobody’s fool. The pressures on his tactics. The appointment of Justice H. R. Government were considerable. Only a few Khanna as Law Minister as well as the days after he took over, Mrs. Gandhi inclusion of T. A. Pai, C. Subramaniam and threatened to withdraw the crucial support Dr. Karan Singh in the list of Ministers was o f her Party if the new Government did not an open signal from the Chaudhury that he play ball. At the same time, Babu Jagjivan was not going to be cowed down by Mrs. Ram stepped up his ‘Operation Topple’ Gandhi. The temporary confusion created sparing neither money nor effort to bring by Justice Khanna’s resignation just two down the new Prime Minister. And in days after he had taken the oath was Chaudhury’s own hotch-potch coalition quickly rectified by the new Government. Government there were signs of considerable S. N. Kacker, an equally bitter critic of tension, particularly in the other ruling Mrs. Gandhi, succeeded him, and in one Party, the Congress (S), many of whose of his first statements made it clear that members were quite vocal in their there was no question of soft-pedalling on disapproval of the choice of Ministers. All the Special Courts issue. This was in these pressures were of course accentuated keeping with the general strategy laid down by the Damocles’ sword of the impending by the policy panel formed by Raj Narain a confidence vote motion on August 20. few days after the new Government took over. The panel, headed by Raj Narain The first and most pressing problem and comprising Prime Minister Charan 51 Singh, S. N. Mishra, R. K. Amin and Narain was very keen that these should be Sushil Dhara, had emphasised that no made before the confidence vote, the compromises would be made. majority opinion in the Janata (S) as well as the Congress (S) was that it should be The Chaudhury Government also postponed to after August 20, the new showed considerable political maturity in Government also made it clear that while it not unduly panicking at the Indira Congress would continue to fight it, the RSS would support to the Janata Party in Bihar. In not be banned. Plans were also made to fact, Raj Narain went as far as to predict a abandon the adult education scheme which “vertical split” in the Indira Congress if it the RSS had cornered during Janata rule continued to support RSS-dominated and through which had allegedly misused Parties. The Janata (S) evidently believed large amounts of funds. that Mrs. Gandhi could not right now afford to vote against the Charan Singh By the end of the first week of August, Government and the aggressive postures it became increasingly clear that neither struck by her were essentially part of Babuji’s nor Mrs. Gandhi’s tactics had psychological warfare. Their belief was, as succeeded in throwing the new Government events proved, unwarranted. completely out of gear. Mrs. Gandhi herself admitted in a public rally on August 9 that On August 4, Chaudhury Charan she would not “take any hasty action to Singh announced that he would seek a pull down the Government” . “We will confidence vote on the 20th of the move step by step. Our first step was month and on the very next day he declared completed with the fall of the Janata that he would quit if he lost the vote. This Government, now we will wait and see. declaration followed assurances by both the We would not step into a weak plank,” A1ADMK as well as the Akali groups that Mrs. Gandhi said. Later, o f course, she they would support him in the confidence chose the option of a midterm poll, rather vote. This increased the Chaudhury’s than temporary support to the Chaudhury. strength in Parliament by 25 and growing hopes of the CPI (M)-led Left Front also On the policy front, the new supporting him, put him in a better position Government was understandably hesitant, than where he had been when he came to but it took its first major decision on power. Encouraged at this consolidation of 13 August when it decided to withdraw the the new Government’s strength in Reserve Bank Ordinance and allow the CDS Parliament, the Chaudhury camp started ordinance to lapse. Just a month back, the drawing up plans for important policy Morarji Government had by an ordinance decisions. Among these were the restoration witheld the repayment of this year’s of the minority character of the Aligarh instalment under the Compulsory Deposit Muslim University, upgrading of the status Scheme on the plea of curbing inflation. o f Urdu and provision of adequate facilities Another ordinance had also been passed by for Haj pilgrims. All these were to restore the previous Government banning strikes the confidence among the Muslim and go-slow tactics by Reserve Bank population of the country. The exact timing employees. The withdrawal of these of the announcement of these decisions was ordinances won the new Government however a matter of debate in the considerable support among the working Chaudhry camp and while 'Netaji’ Raj class and went some way in clearing doubts 52 among them of the ‘kulak’ and ‘anti-worker’ The growing confidence of the image of the new Prime Minister. It also Chaudhry was evident in his Independence paved the way for support from the CPM, Day speech. While no major policy who now had little reason not to support decisions were enunciated, the tenor of the Chaudhry. Charan Singh’s speech was a far cry from the weak and fumbling broadcast to the On the administrative front, the nation that he made just after becoming Government made a few important Prime Minister. The Chandhry’s sabre- appointments... Central Board of Direct rattling point about reconsidering India’s Taxes member O.V. Kuruvilla, from whom nuclear options if Pakistan made a bomb the key charge of investigations was taken went down exceedingly well with the crowds away last year by the Morarji Government and quite a few were heard saying, “Now after he unearthed certain income-tax files we have a Jat as a Prime Minister, and he of Kanti Desai which were given up for means business”. Another point which the “lost”, was brought back. There was also Chaudhry did well to stress was the a proposal to promote S.N. Sastry, director necessity to protect the harijans and landless of inspection, a promotion which was held and poor farmers. This, added to Raj up for months by the previous Government Narain’s instructions to the Kanjhawala because of Sastry’s role in the farmers to call off their agitation against Balasubramaniam episode. Another the harijans, helped Chaudhry’s image. appointment by the new Government was of the former secretary to the Shah The decision to increase fuel and Commission, C.R. Rajgopal, who was petroleum product prices next day did humiliated by the Moraiji Government, as antagonise certain sections against the new director of the Central Reserve Force. The Government but the unpopular decision, previous director R.C. Gopal who because which could have been easily postponed till of his connections with the ruling caucus of after 20 August, also indicated that the Janata managed to cling on to his post Chaudhry Charan Singh was getting surer in spite of his inept handling of the CRP of himself as the days went by. In the end, revolt, was given short shrift. A bureaucrat all this proved of no avail. And on who was removed by the Charan Singh Monday, August 20, 24 days after being Government was V.V. Nagerkar, additional sworn in, Chaudhry Charan Singh inspector general, Maharashtra, who was resigned. close to Morarji. A list of bureaucrats to be brought back as well as another of those August 20 to be removed was drawn up. These decisions were to be implemented after the It was around 9.30 in the morning on 20 August confidence vote if Chaudhry August 20 when the phone rang at 12, survived. Among the most significant of Tughlak Road—Chaudhry Charan Singh’s the coming transfers was the move to residence. It was the 24th day of his Prime replace Foreign Secretary Jagat Mehta with Ministership. Less than a month ago the Ram Sathe, the present Indian ambassador phone had rung with the good news that he to Peking. Chaudhry Charan Singh was was being invited to become Prime Minister. furious with Jagat Mehta for making such a Today the phone call spelled bad news. It fool of External Affairs Minister S.N. was Biju Patnaik on the line : he gave the Mishra at Lusaka. news of Mrs Gandhi’s decision to go

53 against the Government in the confidence time and winning the confidence vote. But vote. the Jat was adamant. He wasn’t even ready to make a phone call to Mrs Gandhi. The news, bad as it was, came as no The taste of Prime Ministership had made surprise to the Chaudhury. By Saturday it him even more certain about his intentions bad become clear that Mrs Gandhi and, to than ever before. an even greater extent, Sanjay Gandhi had become suspicious of supporting Charan The phone call in the morning from Singh. In his meeting with Raj Narain, Biju Patnaik came after a last-ditch attempt Sanjay Gandhi had made it clear that he by him through an emissary to win Mrs was not at all pleased with the way the new Gandhi’s support or at least keep her Government was treating his mother and neutral, failed. While Bahuguna and her Party. “ Netaji” Raj Narain talked S.N. Mishra, both o f whom were with the about the danger of communalism, but Chaudhury when the phone call came Sanjay was not very receptive. Raj Narain through, looked depressed, Chaudhury came out of the meeting grim-faced. The seemed fairly composed and started drafting mood in the Indira Congress also seemed his resignation letter. An emergency strongly set against the Chaudhury with a Cabinet meeting was called at 10 a.m. on general consensus that unless the new Monday, where a resolution was passed Government made a conciliatory gesture to authorising Charan Singh to submit the Mrs Gandhi there was no point in her resignation of his Council of Ministers and guaranteeing its survival. The recent asking the President to declare a mid-term decision taken by the CPI(M) to support poll. The Cabinet members who attended, Charan Singh and the inclusion o f the with the sole exception of the Chaudhury, AIADMK Ministers in the Chaudhury all looked equally glum but there was no Government also contributed to vocal dissent. considerable nervousness in the Mrs Gandhi camp. “It was increasingly clear from the Then the Prime Minister, who had Government’s actions and gestures that served in office for just 24 days, drove to Mrs Gandhi was the target, not a friend Rashtrapati Bhavan and shortly after 10.30 who helped him to become Prime Minister” , a.m. handed in his resignation letter, putting said an Indira Congress MP. What Mrs the ball back in the President’s court after Gandhi feared was that if she let the 26 days. The meeting with the President Chaudhury survive, the situation might get lasted less than 10 minutes and from out of her control. Rashtrapati Bhavan, the Chaudhury drove straight to his residence and not to Charan Singh himself, meanwhile, was Parliament. getting more and more inflexible about making any compromises regarding Mrs In Parliament, the scene was chaotic. Gandhi, however tactical they might be. All the galleries were jampacked and the Biju Patnaik and H.N. Bahuguna spent attendance in the House was nearly almost the whole of Sunday evening and complete with a few important exceptions night with the Chaudhury trying to like Madhu Limaye, George Fernandes and persuade him about the tactical gains of a Biju Patnaik. The note of expectancy in gesture towards Mrs Gandhi. Even Raj the halls and galleries of Parliament was Narain was in favour o f buying some more soon dispelled after the Speaker announced 54 that Charan Singh had resigned. Janata defections from the Congress (S) they would MPs jumped out of their seats and hugged be to Mrs Gandhi and not Babuji. each other and after finishing congratulating Just before the House was meeting at themselves, turned to shake hands with the 2 p.m. there was high drama right outside Indira Congress MPs. Kanwar Lai Gupta the main gate of Parliament. Mrs Gandhi was seen giving an enthusiastic hug to was coming out when she was confronted by C.M. Stephen while many Janata and about 30 Janata (S) MPs led by Maniram Congress (I) MPs cheered deliriously. Bagri shouting, “Indira Gandhi murdabad”. The Janata (S) and Congress (S) MPs, Kalpanath Rai who was with Mrs Gandhi on the other hand, seemed sullen as they started shouting in his characteristic style, weakly returned the showers of abuse and “chup karo, jane do". Following his jeers which were pouring on them from the example, Mrs Gandhi’s bodyguard Bhim Indira Congress and Janata benches. Even also started shouting at the MPs. Netaji seemed distinctly off-colour and was seen quietly accepting the jeers. Members Inside the House, Charan Singh made of the AIADMK were even more his entry at exactly 2 p.m. The business embarrassed. Bala Pijnore, the AIADMK of the House was over in less than a minute MP who was sworn in as a Minister just the after the Speaker adjourned the House day before, was seen trying to say sine die. something, but repeated uproars as soon as In the evening, Raj Narain, looking far he got up to speak finally compelled him to more cheerful, told a crowded news sit down. Ultimately, the morning’s conference that the events of the day “ were Parliament fiasco was ended when, on the a victory and not defeat” for Charan Singh. advice of Babu Jagjivan Ram, the Speaker “The President is bound to call mid-term decided to adjourn the House till 2 p.m. polls” he asserts. Heckled often childishly Members however continued to mill by virulently anti-Chaudhury journalists — around in the Central Hall and Jagjivan and there were many in the Press Ram was seen talking to a large group of conference — Netaji parried questions MPs who crowded around him. Some of cleverly and came out with some typical Raj them belonged to the Congress (S) and there Narain gems like “Now we are seeing a was a hot rumour gaining ground that as marriage betwen devi (Indira) and Deoras” , many as 25 Congress (S) MPs were going to and “Babuji is not CFD, he is RSS”. S. N. support Babuji if the President asked him to Mishra made a brief appearance and said form a Government. Bahuguna strode in that the resignation of Charan Singh proved and stood at the Central Hall doorway with that he was the only clean and democratic his hands on his hips, surveying the scene Prime Minister the country had for some for some time. He caught Babuji’s eye time. Most Press correspondents however suddenly, hurriedly didnamaste a and left before Raj Narain started talking about turned to talk to some other people. the real reason for the Press conference — a Mrs Gandhi came after a while and briefing on various defence deals undertaken immediately a part of the crowd by the Morarji Government. Netaji also surrounding Babuji moved towards her and threatened to produce the controversial within no time she had a good 100 MPs Balasubramaniam the next day at a Press surrounding her. There was also a strong conference. rumour in the capital that if there were 55 10

THE DAWN OF A NEW ERA

R Charan Singh (rather Mr Raj Gandhi, the factions led by Mr H. N. M Narain) has won. After a scrutiny of Bahuguna, Mr Biju Patnaik, Mr George the claims submitted by him and Mr Morarji Fernandes and Mr Madhu Limaye, the Desai, the caretaker Prime Minister since Communist Party of India, the Peasants July 15, Mr Charan Singh has been invited and Workers Party and the Muslim League. by President Sanjiva Reddy to form the The Akali Dal, which had remained neutral new government at the Centre. The in the race for prime ministership between oath taking ceremony is likely to take place M r Chran Singh and Mr Desai (who tomorrow. This brings to a close another continues to lead the Janata Party—the important chapter in the short post­ largest one—in Lok Sabha) is expected to independence history of democracy in this join hands with the winner. The CPI(M), country. the Forward Bloc, the Republican Party of India and the National Conference too The new Prime Minister will head a remained neutral in this power struggle. coalition government, as his supporters are They are likely to lend indirect support a conglomeration of a number of parties to Mr Charan Singh for they may not like and groups in Lok Sabha—his own to topple him soon. breakaway group from the Janata Party which has been styled as Janata (Secular), The AIADMK has announced that it the Congress party headed by Sardar will judge the performance of the new Swaran Singh, the Congress led by the ministry, particularly in regard to the former Prime Minister, Mrs Indira language issue, the state autonomy and

56 Chaudhry Charan Singh taking oath o f office as Union Home Minister in New Delhi in March 1977.

Mr, Rameshuer Hooda Secretary Reception Committee is seen Prime Minister Mr. Charan Singh at Mahatma Gandhi's Samadhi before he unfurled the National flag at the Red Fort on the Independence Day. devolution of funds from the centre to the is conditional in any way. But he is yet to states. It is opposed to dethroning announce his policy on such crucial issues Mr Charan Singh, even though in the as the recent ordinances on the CDS and power struggle it bad sided with the Janata the Reserve Bank employees’ agitation, the Party whose other supporters for making grant of bonus to railwaymen, and the cases Mr Desai again the Prime Minister against Mrs Gandhi and her collaborators included the United Parliamentary Forum, during the emergency (some of them have some independents and 21 members who already been referred to special courts). were expected to leave the Congress-S. As Deputy Prime Minister (Finance) in The Congress-S remained united, notwith­ Mr Desai’s government till July 15—he standing the fact that several of its resigned from the Janata Party the next day members had asked the leader of this to head the Janata-S—he was directly con­ party. Mr Y. B. Chavan, (who was also the cerned with the issuance of the above two leader of the Opposition) not to include ordinances and was stoutly opposed to their names among the supporters of the bonus for railwaymen. He was also Mr Charan Singh. The unsubstantiated a party to the decisions o f the previous claim for M r Desai about these members government on the emergency cases. Any went against him. soft-pedalling of these issues apparently will be indicative of the fact that some It is, indeed, ironical that Mr Charan commitments were made by him before Singh has to depend on the Congress-I he received support from his collaborators. support, even though it is to be from Mr Charan Singh is also said to have outside, for remaining in power. He was finalised an eleven-point programme on the one of the founders of the Janata Party basis of which the coalition government is which was formed in early 1977 to dethrone to be run. This programme included Mrs Gandhi who, he had till lately laying of special stress on rural development proclaimed, represented the dictatorial and rural industrialization, equal tendencies in the country. In its fight importance to heavy and other industries against the Jan Sangh, which is denegrated without injuring the small-scale sector, as a communal organisation, the Janata-S allowing the public sector to play the key has preferred even the Congress-I support role in the economy, keeping the nuclear apparently considering that dictatorial option open, introduction of prohibition tendencies are less harmful to the country! through education and persuasion, and not As argued in this journal last week, the forcing Hindi on the southern states. The fight against the Jan Sangh was just a. foreign policy is to be continued on non- facade for the power struggle. aligned basis as in the past. Eastern Economist It remains to be seen whether the new government will be able to carry on till the Charan Singh Invited next election to Lok Sabha in 1982. Much depends on how the different constituents Raj Narain’s house in New Delhi was of the new coalition, whether they unusually deserted on Thursday afternoon. participate in the ministry-making or A few cars stood in the driveway: There continue to lend support from outside, were more cars than people. Around behave. Mr Charan Singh has denied that 3.30 p.m. a telephone call came from the the support to him from his collaborators Rashtrapati Bhavan to Mr. Raj Narain’s

57 had accepted, in principle, Mr. Charan the affection and given him the support that Singh’s right to form the new Government, made him Prime Minister: the villagers. house informing “Netaji” that the President He agreed. Mr. Raj Narain heard the news calmly, then told his personal aides that he was Then he told his aide to phone the going to sleep. His work, he said was done. various leaders. So far not a single phone He did not even telephone Chaudhury call had come from anyone congratulating Charan Singh. him. The news had still not spread. Among the people who first came to the A telephone call had also gone to the Chaudhury’s mind, among those who Chaudhury’s house, but he had been needed to be called, were Mr. Raj Narain, requested not to tell anyone. At 4 p.m. the Mr. H.N. Bahuguna, Mr. Devaraj Urs, permanent crowd outside his house was Mr. Y.B. Chavan, Mr. Chandrajit Yadav, still quiet and apprehensive. Mr. K.C. Mr. Madhu Limaye, Mr. K.C. Pant, Mr. Tyagi, a young leader of the Chaudhury George Fernandes, Mr. S.N. Mishra, camp, had heard the news at Raj Narain’s Mr. R.K. Amin, Mr. Janeshwar Mishra, house. He walked out of a friend’s car and Mr. Rabi Ray and Mr. Unnikrishan. Very first broke the news to the crowd outside. high on his list were Mr. Urs and Mr. When he entered the Chaudhury’s house it Chandrajit Yadav, “ This boy has done a was silent. Mr. Kartar Singh, on the lot of work,” he said about Mr. Yadav. Of Chaudhury’s personal staff for 20 years, and course more names were soon added to the perhaps his closest aide, was smiling but list. still maintained the official silence. The first phone call was to Mr. Chavan. Chaudhury Charan Singh was sitting The Chaudhury thanked him, and said that alone in his small room when we entered, his Prime Ministership was their victory. the first outsiders to meet him after he “All of you have helped a great deal,” he became the Prime Minister designate. He said and then added that they should looked happy, a small smile on his lips. On “decide the names” very quickly as he the wall above him was a large framed wanted to form a Ministry as soon as blow-up of the Chaudhury addressing the possible. “Public work has been held up kisan rally last December. On the wall for too long,” said the Prime Minister on the left side was a large blow-up of designate. Gandhiji, on the right wall was on equally The second phone-call was for Mr. Urs. large portrait of Swami Dayanand. A “ Devarajji,” said the Chaudhury, “This is picture of Sardar Patel also decorated the your victory.” They spoke for quite a room. while. The Chaudhury accepted our At 4.30 p.m. the Chaudhury got up congratulations with a smile. He asked his and said that he must meet the ordinary aide to put a call through to Mr. Raj people, they were the real people to be Narain. We told him that Mr. Raj Narain thanked, they deserved all that he could had gone to sleep after hearing the news, give. Still barefoot, he walked out of the saying that his work was now done. room, through a corridor and the main Mr. Tyagi then suggested that he should drawing room, and into the hall which led only meet the people who had shown him to the door. As we entered the hall, the 58 rush of the crowd outside had almost forced formally to form a Government. The meeting open the door and the security people were between Mr. Reddy and Charan Singh was having a very hard time keeping them back. short and to the point. According to the They wanted to see their leader. “A poor President’s secretary Hamid, there was little man has become the Prime Minister,” they conversation. In a little while, the said. “ He is the first poor man to become Chaudhury came out flanked by security a Prime Minister.” men and got into the waiting ambassador car after giving a one-line answer to a Suddenly on the way the Chaudhury question by a reporter about when he would realised that he was not wearing shoes. He form a Government. “May be tomorrow darted into a side room and quickly put on or Saturday, after our Congress friends his shoes and came back. As he went decide”, were the only words that Charan outside the frenzy reached its climax. They Singh spoke. Meanwhile there was gloom mobbed him, nearly lifted him high, and and despair in the Janata camp. The ones the crush from all sides was so great that,- who had jeered the most loudly when on considering the age, only a politician could July 9, Raj Narain came into Parliament have withstood it. But now the place was and sat in the Opposition benches were swarming with freshly commandeered sullen and quiet. policemen and plain-clothesmen, and they were quickly guarding the Prime Minister Morarji had been informed of the to be. He spoke for a minute softly. Then President’s decision by a letter shortly after he went back. 4 p.m. that day. When reporters reached his residence it wore an absolutely deserted The first hour of another era was over. look. A few security men tried to stop tbe newsmen but when prevailed upon, they Chaudhury himself was beaming but agreed to phone up Mr. Desai’s securities. seemed a little subdued. As newsmen “What’s the use ? We will be on duty at crowded around him and asked him Chaudhury Sahab’s place soon,” one of the questions, Charan Singh answered in security men said. Dressed in crisp white, monosyllables, and his face had a deadpan Morarji had an air of resignation when he look. The only time he showed some came to meet the Press. Accompanying emotion was when a woman photographer, him were Ravindra Varma and Bhajan Lai. Mandira Purie, was pushed down on the Conscious of his characteristic terse answers, ground in the rush o f photographers looking a reporter asked hesitantly whether Morarji for a vantage point from which to take would give his reactions to the day’s pictures of the Prime Minister-designate. political developments. “I have said ‘no’ “You will be crushed in this crowed, come all too often. Now I will not say no,” was with me into another room and you can Morarji’s surprising answer. He answered take your photographs,” he told Purie. all the questions with his usual composure but the snap had gone out of the 84-year-old At exactly 5.30 p.m. the Prime Minister ex-Prime Minister who fulfilled his life’s designate entered the gates of Rashtrapati ambition after March 1977, only to be Bhavan in a white Ambassador car. He rudely deprived of it 28 months later by was ushered in to the President’s study room someone whose life’s ambition was as great where Mr. Reddy was awaiting him and he as his. was then taken to the morning room where he was handed over the letter inviting him Sunday Weekly Calcutta 59 11

FACE TO FACE WITH CHARAN SINGH

. How did you feel first when you of the legislators leave a Party it does not Q • became Prime Minister, and how did amount to a defection, it amounts to a split. you feel when you resigned? I ask for yourSo far as my ambitions are concerned, I personal reactions. think every man in public life should entertain an ambition of holding office and if possible the highest office with a view to A: It made no difference to me. I am used to being in the wilderness. I drive my serving the people according to his principles. Office is an instrument of sustenance in public life from the affections service. Office amounts to power only in o f the people, not from office. the hands of those who would abuse it. In the hands of those who would make good Q : But the main charge that your use of it, impartially, it is a burden. So it detractors, particularly your former is not the lure of office that forced me to colleagues in the Janata, are making against leave. The truth is different. you is that you left the Party in order to fulfil your personal ambitions, and they have They had decided—my friends, the Jana called you a defector. Are you a defector? Sangh leadership, the Prime Minister and the Janata Party chairman...to oust me and A : Firstly, it is not a defection. my colleagues from the Government and According to the report of the committee also to exclude us from positions in the (set up to study the subject and prevent organisation as well. They decided this a defections), when more than 20 per cent long while ago, and for more than a year

60 and a half went about trying to do so. As regards the Government. Well, the There are many examples. For instance, only offence I had committed for which I the central election panel which the Janata was asked to resign last year was that I had chairman set up consisted only of three asked whether my colleagues were a pack of persons : Mr Surendra Mohan, who will not impotent people. That was because Mrs get elected from his town even in a Gandhi was going about saying that these municipal polU.it is I who got him elected people can’t arrest me. When I said that to the Rajya Sabha from UP; it is on the the Government consisted of impotent basis of my votes that he came. There is people I included myself in it. ‘Impotent’ another man who is known as Ram Krishna means simply weak-kneed people, nothing Hegde, whose reputation is dismal. The more than that. On June 16 the Cabinet third person was Sunder Singh Bhandari of Secretary and the Home Secretary had seen the Jana Sangh. Why did they forget the me at Surajkhand where I was convalescing BLD altogether ? It was the BLD who about how we should proceed in the matter brought them into existence. This was not of prosecutions against Indira Gandhi enough. There were six members of the consequent on the report of the Shah Rajasthan panel. Not one from BLD was Commission, and whether some special there. Why ? There were six persons in procedure should be devised. I am not a the Gujarat panel. Not one person from the criminal lawyer. Later on a gentleman told BLD was included. There were six in UP : me that there is Section 407 or 507 which two belonging to the C. B. Gupta group, provides for special procedure : by which and only one to us. Why ? Does C. B. from the sessions court the case can go Gupta and the Congress (O) enjoy twice the directly up to the Supreme Court. I don’t influence that we have in UP ? And if he think any opinion of the Supreme Court did, why didn’t the chairman of the Party, was necessary in this regard, which the Mr Chandrashekhar, ask Mr Gupta to Government decided to seek. The law, as canvass for votes in the Fatehpur it stands, already provides for this. But I byelection ? Had Mr Gupta gone there, we have never been a criminal lawyer; and I did would have definitely lost that seat. In the not know. I simply asked the Cabinet preceding Assembly elections, Mr Gupta had Secretary and the Home Secretary to devise lost his security deposit. And out of the some special procedures. Otherwise, if we 425 seats, the Congress (O) won only ten. resorted to the ordinary process it would Despite hectic canvassing by Shri Morarji take ten years. On June 9 Mr Ram Desai. And now he says that he will be Jethmalani had written a letter to the Law going out to canvass for his Party, the Minister saying that he had seen me twice Janata (C) : I will welcome it, it will only at Surajkhand and my opinion was that stand us in good stead. In the last some ordinance should be issued, some Assembly polls before 1977 that is in 1974, special procedure should be adopted. I we had 106 seats, 61 seats went to Jana quoted this letter in the statement which I Sangh, 10 to Congress (O), five to Socialists. made on the floor of Parliament on December 22 explaining why I resigned. These last three Parties got four seats in Mr Chandrashekhar’s election panel for UP, and the Party which had won 106 seats On June 17 our Prime Minister got only one. What does this mean ? They returned from the USA, and at the Press wanted to exclude us from any place in the conference he said that the Government would devise no special procedures and that organisation. 61 the cases would be resolved by ordinary law. asked to resign: The Jana Sangh and On June 21 he repeated the same thing. Morarji had ganged up. They proposed to I think Acharya Kripalani had already oust me from the Ministry, or at least to issued a statement by then that Morarji take away the Home department from me. Desai should resort to Special Courts, and There were two reasons for this. The first that he had learnt that Morarji Desai had was the largely attended kisan rally on agreed not to persecute or prosecute Indira December 23, 1977. That put a fright into Gandhi, that he was very soft with her. I them. They felt jealous They felt they quoted this too in my statement to were nowhere compared to this man. And Parliament. But for saying all this against then—my folly, you might say, my audacity, Mrs Gandhi I was asked to resign. This you might say, in asking the Prime Minister is the way they treated me. to set up an enquiry committee which he had promised, into the allegations against Now, about Raj Narain. The accusation his own son. This promise he had made at against him was that he addressed a a public meeting which he addressed on meeting at the Ridge in Simla sometime January 15 at Bhavnagar, presided overby around the begining of June (in 1978). the president of the district Janata Party. Fifteen days earlier Atal Behari Vajpayee Look up The Times o f India of January 16: had addressed a similar meeting at that you will find the details there. very place. The explanation to defend Mr Vajpayee was that it was a Government So I had committed two ‘mistakes’ : function. But wherever a Minister goes it proved to be too popular for them, and had becomes a Government function. Moreover, the audacity to ask Morarji Desai to stick the account books of the Janata Party of to his word. This was how we were treated Simla show that the expenses of holding in the first half of 1978. Then they were not that meeting were borne by the Party. prepared to take back Raj Narainji. The Further, meetings at that place had been reason given was that he was very wild in held several times before by various leaders. his speeches aginst the Prime Minister. To Then, there was no Section 144 in that area, some extent their allegation was correct. I as alleged. There was another charge had advised Raj Narain to put a bridle on against Raj Narain that he had criticised the his tongue, not to speak unrestrained Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister at that language. But when an audience was in meeting. N o ! It was a totally false front of him he could not restrain himself. accusation. His speech had been On three occasions I publicly disowned him. taperecorded. But it was the State Chief Further, you will find that when disciplinary Minister, a Jana Sangh leader, an RSS man, action was taken against him, I didn’t who wrote to Morarji as desired by Nanaji condemn the disciplinary action. Deshmukh, and because of this Raj Narain The action against Raj Narain was asked to resign. Can any example be was taken not because he had committed quoted to show that on such a flimsy charge any wrong, but because he was Raj Narain, a Prime Minister should ask his colleague to because he was leader of the BLD, because resign? he was my closest colleague. If they were lovers of discipline in the Party why did They wanted to destroy us. I had they not take any action against the MLAs received a letter from Bombay on February of the Jana Sangh and the Chandrashekhar 28, 1978 from a friend that I would be group when they voted openly on a money bill on the floor of the House against their asked why. Let those people who are own Government in UP ? Not only that. dissatisfied put a vote of no confidence Last year, when candidates to the Rajya against Ram Naresh Yadav : Why should Sabha were elected from the Bihar Assembly he seek a vote of confidence ? He had been and the Rajasthan Assembly, money was made to seek a vote o f confidence only six used by the Chandrashekhar group to defeat months earlier, and now again. That the Janata candidate Shyam Lai Gupta. amounted to demoralising him, Similarly a lady, our candidate, was demoralising the administration : this should defeated in Rajasthan by the Jana Sangh not have been done. But Morarji would members of the Assembly. The matter not listen. Similarly about Patna. I said came up before the Parliamentary Board. let those against Karpoori Thakur bring a Atal Behari Vajpayee was appointed to look vote of no confidence. Ram Naresh was into it. There was no report made. When removed, Karpoori Thakur was removed, I asked for a report I got silence. Not only and now remained Haryana. The dissidents that Chandrashekhar, Ram Krishna were invited, or summoned, by the Hegde and others had been fostering Ministers here in Delhi and they gathered indiscipline in Haryana all along. They at the residence of the Prime Minister never took any action against the dissidents himself on June 6. And this man, the there. And when Devi Lai and Mrs Prime Minister, exhorted them to be firm, Chandravati took any action, it was to remain united in ousting Devi Lai. Now, revoked. If anyone was suspended, the if Morarji wanted the Party to continue to suspension was lifted by Delhi. function well, was it not his duty, if there Now take the case of UP. Yesterday was anything wrong with the Haryana (that is, on August 23)) Girilal Jain has Government, just to ask me to look into it? written an article in The Times o f India Was he a dictator? It was I who raised him on the fall of Charan Singh. There he says to that pedestal. But look at his attitude. the trouble began in UP when Ram Naresh And then to send the 30 odd MLAs who Yadav turned out Jana Sangh Ministers. gathered at his place to Rajasthan. They Now, this is a lie. He first turned out two were sent away on the evening of the 6th and they returned on the 25th morning, of his own Ministers on grounds of misconduct, and then two junior Ministers when the vote was on the 26th. Should any Prime Minister behave in this manner? of the Jana Sangh. The trouble did not begin there. The trouble began on December 23, 1977 when the seeds of On the 21st my friends gathered at the jealousy and fright were implanted in the residence of R. K. Amin to ponder about hearts of these people. Take the case of what was happening. Everybody was very, Patna. You could not find a finer public very furious. To return to the question of the election panels for a moment. On man than him (Karpoori Thakur), though I wish he was a stricter administrator. He November 27, 1978, 20 MPs and Ministers had tremendous support among the people: from UP wrote a letter to Chandrashekhar you see how we will win in Bihar. protesting against the constitution of the election panel for UP. No response. Two To return to UP, after Ram Naresh, a weeks later my friends from Rajasthan man of integrity, had turned out the wrote a similar letter, and also my friends Ministers he was asked to seek a vote of from Gujarat. No response. They could confidence. When the matter came up I not care.

63 In April, (this year) Ram Krishna Hegde against him on June 12. I said no to him, gave a misleading briefing to the Press about I said we’ll fight within the Party. He the meeting of the parliamentary board, again asked me. When he asked me for the that the board had decided that the RSS is third time, 1 told him if he wanted to leave a cultural body and no action would be he should go, but he did not have my taken about dual membership. Now that initiative. I do not believe in staying in was a lie. I can give you a copy of the the Government and asking my friend to go letter I addressed to the chairman. It was out and attack the Government from a clear lie, a falsehood. I gave my arguments outside. But with all his faults, the virtues why dual membership should not be allowed that Raj Narain possesses are far larger, to continue. On 4th or 6th November 1976 far larger. But on June 26 Morarji Desai Bhanu Pratap Singh had written a letter tells a newsman who asks him about the to Jayaprakash Narayan saying that we resignations, that it doesn’t matter, that if have failed to form a Party, but there is all the members of the BLD leave they will one silver lining—we have agreed on a do so at their cost or at their peril, and the common programme, and also the aims Government will become stronger still. and objectives of the Party. He enclosed Could any Prime Minister in his senses use the programme with this letter. The letter this language ? It hurt my colleagues requested JP to lend a helping hand so that greatly. In a way, it was a challenge to a one-united party might emerge. The them. programme enclosed with the letter says that there should be no dual membership And then came the disclosures that a in the Janata Party : a member of the raid had been made on June 4 on the house Janata Party will not join any other political of Balasubramaniam; this became known Party or any other Party motivated by around 7th or 8th June. He had submitted political considerations—it is very very an affidavit in court saying that he had clear. I sent a letter to the Party that we business and political dealings with Kanti must now agree to work as a coalition; no Desai for the last two decades, and he used to homogeneous Party was likely to emerge. go to Morarji’s house often. So, everything This was in the second week of April, this was exposed. I sent to Morarji Desai some year. No action was taken. The letter was documents, and telex messages, which the forwarded to Morarji Desai, but no action. officers had seized from one place in Delhi So on June 21, (at the gathering in R.K. and one in Madras (which was raided on Amin’s house) I suggested the formation the 6th) mentioning the name of Kanti o f a committee consisting of two young Desai more than once. Morarji Desai members of the BLD and two older replied after a few days that enquiries may members under presidentship of R.K. Amin be made in the normal course But can himself to consider ways and means about an enquiry be made against the major son how we should preceed, to frame a strategy: of a Prime Minister, the only son, who lives I did not know what to do. On the 22nd, with him and is a political secretary to his the next day, while on my way to my house, father, in the ordinary course? If he could I went to see Bahuguna who was not feeling turn out his son from his house, may be it well. There I found Raj Narain and Shyam would have been possible. And can an Nandan Mishra also. There Raj Narain enquiry be made against a Minister while asked my permission to leave the Party. he is still in office? No. (Morarji Desai put Disciplinary action had already been taken that noting on the file) so that if the matter

64 comes up before Parliament be could say We can’t submit to this kind of blackmail tbat he had asked Charan Singh to make and to this Government any longer. I enquiry in the normal course. That was the myself had not been able to work out any intention. As time passed, many revelations strategy. I was thinking of doing something were made in this case also. Kanti Desai within the Party after July 28, because the was earning money on the strength of his session was to last till August 18. I never relationship with the Prime Minister. If designed the split. I was driven to the wall. you remember (Morarji Desai) had said on I and my friends who were more responsible the floor of the House that Kanti had than anybody else for bringing the Janata accompanied him on a visit to London in Party into existence. For raising Morarji June 1977 in order to finalise the severance himself and Chandra Shekhar to the positions of his relations with a business house, and that they occupy. And now they are talking that he no longer carries on any business. nonsense! But this man says in his affidavit submitted on 11th June that it was Kanti who asked Now about Mrs. Gandhi. I told him to enter business again which due to Kamlapati Tripathi and C.M. Stephen his bad health he had given up, and he when they came to my house that, look here, would take up that business alone which for formality’s sake you have been offering Kantiji had recommended to him. And as unconditional support to me, and for I have told you, in the telex message, which formality’s sake I am going to admit that con’t be forged, there is a mention of you are being very magnanimous. But the Kanti’s name: ‘Kanti has approved’ it says. hard reality is, I told them in so many This referred to a contract which the words, that you are choosing a lesser evil in Government of India had entered into with the form of a break-up of the Janata Party. a Japanese firm, which agreed to give That’s all. And they laughed. I never made 25 per cent as commission to any suggestion: my wife never went to that Balasubramaniam and others. This was in lady; none of my prominent friends ever connection with a shipyard in Paradip. A saw Shrimati Indira Gandhi. From 11th West German firm had also made an offer, July onwards you will find half a dozen but then the Japanese got the contract. The references in the Press that Indira Gandhi papers will show that some arrangement was going to offer unconditional support was made to change the committee which to those people who were supporting the was to evaluate the tenders. The papers are no-confidence motion. Now Stephen says clear on that point. And the committee that Raj Narainji had made a request and was changed. So, that was the kind of itwas at his request that his Party had Prime Minister we had. offered unconditional support. No. It is a lie. Raj Narainji simply asked Kamlapati And then came this motion of Tripathi that we are reading the papers no-confidence by Shri Y. B. Chavan. We which say that you are willing to offer us never knew that he was going to bring it; unconditional support, and if that is so then we never had any talk with him. All these kindly say so to the President. It was after things: Morarji’s statement that it doesn’t this that the two friends (Tripathi and matter if the BLD members leave, the Stephen) came to my house. And then they Balasubramaniam case, the RSS issue came said why couldn’t they say that Raj Narain together. Then my friends asked me, had come to their house. After all, Chaudhry Sahab, now leave us free. Mrs. Gandhi had come to my house, once.

65 I said yes, on the occasion of the birth would prefer to support me rather than of a child. If there is a birth of a child in Jagjivan Ram. I said, no! her house, say Rajiv’s child or Sanjay’s A day iearlier, Indira’s son Sanjay had child and she invites all the people, all the seen one of my friends and said that instead leaders, then I will be too glad to come. of being kind to them for their support, all And Mrs. Gandhi had seen me once when that the Charan Singh Government had I was lying ill in the last week of March done was to accelerate the cases against in the Lohia Hospital. She had come to Mrs Gandhi and him. And he gave five request me : for God’s sake, not to specific instances. My frined came to me. prosecute her or her son, for all that they I called for the Law Minister. Kacker told had done. And then she told me that Atal me that this notification had been issued Behari Vajpayee had assured them about before our Government came into existence, this. I replied that I couldn’t do anything on 19th July. The notification simply said about it and she should go and see Morarji that the offence was one which fell under Desai. After that, she is a very intelligent the Special Courts’ jurisdiction. And lady, and she sent, a bouquet of flowers according to what has been stated in the when I had a heart attack, and then when law, the case stood automatically transferred the kisan rally took place and millions of to the Supreme Court. No special order people were present. But that didn’t affect was needed. In another case the High me at all. So they (Tripathi and Stephen) Court had ordered day to day proceedings; said, why can’t you see her. I said, no. that too was not made at the instance of the Then they said that I should write a letter Government. Three other points were that we too had sought unconditional explained by the Law Minister, who pointed support. I said, well, I see no objection out that the cases had not been speeded up. in writing such a letter, but I will consult At the same time we were very firm that we my friends first. I wrote that letter and would do nothing to cancel the notification released it to the Press, and I took care not or do anything to show that we are being to say that I was thankful, only that I soft. That is the position. greatly appreciate your gesture. I had realised that we would lose in Now, the Government was formed. The Parliament. This was not a vote of President told me I had a majority of 24 no-confidence. This was a vote persons; out of 492, 250 would have wanted of confidence which we sought. And we me to be the Prime Minister and Morarji’s were not bound to seek it. It is the Council list had only 234 genuine names. Things of Ministers which advises the President, began to be discussed : what does Mrs. not the President who advises the Council Gandhi want, does she want the Special of Ministers. Just out of respect for the Courts scrapped—many Congress (I) MPs President and regard for democracy I called made statements. I kept quiet. On the the legislature for August 20. I could have night of 19th August, at 9.30 p.m., a friend postponed it for six months and made my of mine told me that he understood that position strong. But perhaps I could not Jagjivan Ram had agreed to cancel the have done it even six months later because notification under which the Kissa Kursi Ka I would not bribe people (laughs). So, it case is transferred to the Supreme Court was clear that we would lose. I consulted from the sessions court. I was told that if the Constitution and it was very specific I was prepared to do the same, Mrs. Gandhi that the President was bound by the advice

66 of the Council of Ministers; he had no Q : O f the people who drove you out o f discretion. Even by the ruling given by the Janata Party, between Chandrashekhar, Supreme Court in 1974, even when the Morarji Desai and the Jana Sangh—RSS conventions were in force. Now it has been leadership, who wo? most determined against written down. When this amendment was you ? moved by Shanti Bhushan, in answer to the question whether a Prime Minister with a A : The Prime Minister. And the Jana minority Government could ask for a Sangh. But really I can’t distinguish dissolution, he said yes. Because it is the between them. AU of them knew that they people who are sovereign, not Parliament. do not enjoy the confidence of the people, Look at the case of Callaghan, only a few so they were anxious to buttress their high months ago. He lost on the floor of the positions. In me they saw their enemy. So House, and he asked for fresh elections, and they were out to destroy me. Although I it was granted. Perhaps there is no case had done nothing wrong. This man of a of a defeated Prime Minister who wanted Prime Minister did not agree to merge his to go to the people and was refused. Take Party into the new Party till January 18, the case of the President himself in 19341 1977, when he was released. If Moraiji when his Government in Andhra Pradesh Desai had asked for the dissolution of the lost on the floor of the House; he was the House, the President could not have refused deputy leader, and T. Prakasam was the him. But he could not ask, because he leader and they asked for a fresh poll and knew that the people would not return him. it was granted, despite the protest of the And now it is only the Janata Party which Communists who were in large numbers in is opposed to a midterm poll, no other the Opposition. Party. They know they will be defeated.

So to say that the President was in Q : What are your prospects in the league with us, and to use the words of this next elections ? Chandrashekhar, who will never be returned from his constituency (in Ballia)—1 assure A : In the next elections you will see you, he will lose his deposit; and if you go we will sweep the polls. We will not return to Sikandapur and see the palatial buildings simply as the largest, single group; my which have come into existence, and the alliance will sweep the polls. Villagers all Apeejay Vidyamandir constituted by the over the country, even in States which I money of the infamous industrialist! Why have not visited hitherto, for example do we give the names of educational Tamil Nadu and Kerala, they now also feel institutions after Gandhi or Patel or there must be a change. There is somebody Dayanand, so that people may get some now who speaks the villagers’ language. It inspiration from these personalities. So, is on their strength that I say that I simply there the students will get inspiration from need choose good candidates—that’s all. Aminchand Pyarelal. And you know who Even no organisation will be necessary; the laid the foundation stone ? Bhairon Singh village boys will set up organisations Shekhawat, the Jan Sangh leader. And such themselves. Nor will I take money from was the chairman of our Party. It was the any millionaire. misfortune of our Party, that such a man was the Prime Minister and such a man was Q : Even i f you ask them they will not the chairman of the Party. give it to you. 67 A : (Laughs uproariously) no, no, no. urban or rural. Out of the 48 per cent of Even while some people were trying to do our country which lives below the poverty horsetrading during the last few weeks, line, a large number live in cities. They particularly by some of your friends who build the mansions of the rich, and die on are now so vociferous against the President, the pavements. If there is more emphasis two persons telephoned my wife. She came on the rural, it is only because the vast and told me that people want to give us majority of the poor live there. money. I asked her, what reply did you give ? She said, I refused. 1 said, good. Q : Are you going to hold enquiry But we don’t need their money. commissions into Kanti Desai and Suresh Ram ? Q : Who will be your main opponent, A : If public interest so demands, I the Janata Party or Mrs Gandhi ? will ask the law to take appropriate steps. A : Everybody who is dishonest I have not made any proper enquiries yet (laughs loudly). into their activities : I have hardly had time to breathe. But I will not hesitate if the Q : Seriously, who will constitute the evidence is forthcoming, if it is necessary to greater challenge to you ? institute an enquiry today I will do it, be it against Kanti or be it against M. J. Akbar. A : In fact, I think Mrs Gandhi and the Jana Sangh may collude. Outwardly, Q : Do you envisage putting up special they may keep up a semblance of hostility, courts against profiteers and covertly they may join up against our Blackmarke leers ? candidates. They will not make an open declaration to this effect. So what shall I A : If I can possibly do it; if there is say ; shall I say the Jana Sangh, or shall I a legal provision for it, I will certainly do it. say Indiraji ? Q : You are said to be hostile to Q : You have a reputation for being Communists. Has your attitude changed anti-city... today ?

A : No, no, no, I am not anti-city; I A : Today ? My attitude towards am living in a city myself. I am anti-big Communists is what it always was. I regard city, that’s all. Big cities can’t be managed them as friends of the poor. I have said so well. No city should have a population of in so many words, many a time in the past. more than one million—I am not talking I differ from them only in the emphasis on about the metropolitan cities that already the nature of industrial development. In exist but of the ether cities which are their scheme of things they believe in great growing, and which are being created. We economic units run by the state, whereas I should have more cities, but smaller ones. believe in small economic units run by the individual. But we are allies in the sense I am not against the urban poor; I am that they are as much for the poor as I am. on their side. I am against the urban rich And they see in me a friend of theirs, a who fleece the country. I have already said well-wisher of the poor. in my Red Fort speech that 41 per cent of the urban population lives below the poverty line. I stand for the poor whether Sunday Weekly, Calcutta 68 12

RURAL REALITY

T is a welcome sign that Prime Minister relief provided to the exploited peasants. I Charan Singh has spoken not only At that time he was certainly working to of his oft-repeated concern for rural areas reduce inequalities. His effort for the but also of the necessity to bridge abolition zamindari, as also the fact that inequalities between the poor and rich. he himself belonged to the peasant castes However, there are various ways in which whose cause he championed made him a this later statement may be interpreted. force to reckon with as the leader of the For example, rural orientation to policy emergent peasant caste. Subsequent years making by itself may be looked upon as an have witnessed a growing strengthening of attempt to bridge inqualities by transferring this peasant class, specially after the green resources from “ rich” industrialists to revolution in the late sixties. “poor” farmers. And the benefits to the rural sector may be narrowed to the Support Base provision of lower input prices for fertilizers etc. and higher prices for the marketable Initially, Charan Singh’s support base surplus of farmers. Will such steps really was concentrated in Western UP and help to reduce inequality? Haryana, especially among the Jats of the region, and although Jats may still constitute When Charan Singh worked hard for the hardcore of his supporters it would be a the enactment and implementation for serious mistake to still regard him as only a zamindari abolition laws in Uttar Pradesh leader of the Jats as many urbanites are apt in the early Fifties, there was considerable to do. As the peasants in several parts of

69 the country, most prominently in the green In the villages of India, feelings run revolution areas, have gained economic high over the question of land, and the prosperity, their political aspirations have strong aspiration of the landless for “Do naturally increased; they would like to see Bigha Zamin” , matched by the equally their own men installed in power in strong determination of the landowning Lucknow, Chandigarh and in Delhi. class not to allow any distribution of land Charan Singh is fortunate in being accepted to the landless. Ironically even those who as their man in Delhi. This recognition are not being deprived of any land for the has come partly because of his support of purpose of distribution amongst the landless the cause of this peasantry at an early date also oppose it. One reason may be that and partly because he has been the leader of they genuinely want the entire community these castes from a state from which Central land to be reserved for grazing. leaders have come generally because of its sheer size and numerical strength. But his Clearly the progressive elements who base would not have been so strong had it have agreed to either join or support consisted only o f the prosperous fanners of Charan Singh’s government should be the green revolution areas. This base has concerned about the plight of Harijans been expanded as the basis of caste under his Government given the attitude of alignments. In recent years, attempts have the hard core of his supporters towards been made to create a certain solidarity Harijans in the past. They should make it among all middle peasant castes, or clear to Charan Singh that a minimum “backward” castes as they may be called at programme for the welfare of Harijans and some places and in some situations. other landless should be clearly laid down and it should be adhered to strictly. This caste solidarity, which manifested itself in recent times in the demand for job First of all no new legislation which reservations for backward castes in Haryana goes back on existing land reforms should and elsewhere helped to bring the poor be allowed. Secondly, protection should be Yadav farmer owning an acre in East UP, extended to Harijans so that they are not or the destitute Kori farmer living on a few deprived of the small plots of land that they bighas of land in Bihar to the fold of what have already obtained. Thirdly, certain is called the Kisan group. On the basis of targets regarding further redistribution of caste-cum-class alignments, thus, Charan land should be laid down and these should Singh has been able to assemble the support be strictly adhered to. All cases of of a fairly large section of the rural atrocities against Harijans and tribals population, and not just that of the big should be dealt with as matters of urgency farmers. It is another matter that he has and culprits punished regardless of their not been a very astute and capable leader. party affiliation. Recently he allowed a substantial section to be alienated, at least temporarily, when he neglected his constituency and other Link Newsmagazine important areas of support in Uttar Pradesh when the sugarcane farmers were in distress. His indifference to the killing of three students in Baraut town in his constituency also upset the people of the area.

70 13

THE FIRST BROADCAST TO THE NATION

rp H £ Prime Minister, Shri Charan Singh, observed. The government hoped that in said this evening that the first task time an acceptable lingua franca will before the nation was to revive and reinforce develop in the country but no language people’s faith in a bright future. In his shall be imposed on any section against its first address to the nation after taking over will any every language shall be given the as Prime Minister on 28 July 1979, Shri maximum opportunity for development. Charan Singh said elimination of poverty Unity based on values and national and unemployment and the disparities of objectives was the need of the time and we income and wealth will be given the highest have to restore in the minds of our people priority in the programmes and policies of their confidence in the capacity and his government. resilience of our democratic polity to solve our multifarious problems. The following While small economic units would be is the text of the Prime Minister’s encouraged, wherever necessary big broadcast : industries would continue to be established and if necessary in the public sector also. “I am speaking to you tonight as your In special cases even existing private first public servant. Today, some of my industries would be nationalised. All colleagues and I assumed the sacred backward classes, weaker sections and responsibility of managing the nation^ minorities, scheduled castes and affairs. It shall be our collective endeavour shall be given all protection and help tribes to discharge this trust with sincerity and to develop themselves, the Prime Minister devotion. We are deeply conscious of the goodwill and affection our people have For a country like ours with its endemic chosen to bestow on us. economic and social problems, there is no escape except to encourage by every possible All of us are painfully aware of the fact means the establishment of small economic that in spite of the best wishes of our units both in industry and in agriculture. leaders, our achievements in every sphere This does not mean that my Government have fallen far short of the expectations of has any reservations about the role of big our people. Thirty years after Independence industries as a matter of principle. we are almost amongst the poorest countries Wherever necessary, big industries will in the world. continue to be established and, wherever national interest so demands, established in Our poverty has to be eliminated and the public sector. Not only th a t: in special the basic necessities of life made available cases even existing private industry will be to every single citizen. Political leadership nationalised. of the country must remember that nothing mocks our values and our dreams more than At the same time this Government the desperate struggle of our people for realizes that inasmuch as corruption starts existence. Nothing could, therefore, be at the top and, percolating down, corrupts more poignant than the look of despair in the whole society, unless there is a high the eyes of a starving child. Nothing could, degree of personal integrity at the top level therefore, be a more patriotic objective for in the public life of our country, corruption our political leaders than to ensure that no in administration cannot possibly be child will go to bed hungry, that no family stamped out or even substantially reduced. will fear for its next day’s bread and that Although the ultimate solution lies in the the future and capacities of not a single hands of the people themselves who have Indian will be allowed to be stunted by the right to choose their leaders, the mal-nutrition. Government will take all necessary steps Unemployment is on the increase. in this regard. There cannot be a greater misery than that young men fully qualified and wanting Interested parties have spread various gainful employment, find themselves idle. rumours about me and my colleagues. We have to find employment for all of them. These tend to create apprehensions about Indeed, employment should be the principal imposition of Hindi on unwilling sections instrument with which poverty has to be o f our people and justice not being meted eliminated. Elimination of unemployment out to minorities, and other weaker sections will, therefore, be accorded the highest of our society. This propaganda is an priority in programmes and policies of my unmitigated lie. government. All backward classes, weaker sections Disparities of income and wealth have and minorities, scheduled castes and tribes widened over the years. There is a yawning shall be ensured all protection and help to economic and cultural gulf between our develop themselves to the optimum so that cities and our villages. This dangerous they play a rightful role in society. trend has to be checked. My Government will initiate steps to prevent the growth of Government will ensure maximum cities beyond certain limits. opportunities to all minorities for

72 development—economic, religious and Above all, we have to restore in the cultural—and strive for their effective minds of our people their confidence in the integration within the Indian society. capacity and resilience of our democratic polity to solve our multifarious problems. Every language shall be given the A new atmosphere of hope has to be maximum opportunity for development. created in the country in the place of the No language shall be imposed on any present state of uncertainty apprehension section of the society against its will, and despair. although it is this Government’s fond hope that in time, an acceptable lingua franca will develop. Ideological differences may be defficult to resolve overnight. But a unity based.on The country is today facing a grave values and national objectives is not only crisis. It is not ordinary times that we are possible but is the imperative need of our living in. Our people are fast getting time. disenchanted. At this critical moment, our first task is to revive and re-inforce In the comity of nations India with its the people’s faith in a bright future. glorious heritage and tradition has a distinctive role to play. It has to spread Increasing prices have made our people the message of peace and apply the healing apprehend the approach of an economic touch at every sore spot. crisis. I want to assure the people that Government will take every possible step to meet the situation. We have a huge I may add that in the sphere of foreign stock of food in Government warehouses affairs my Government will continue to and ample foreign reserves to meet any follow a policy of non-alignment which will contingency. And inefficiency in production not lean on any super power. of coal, power, steel and cement, movement of railways, clearance of goods in the ports India is a rich country, blessed by and deterioration of industrial relations will Nature, and with people of great culture, be dealt with a sympathetic but a stern traditions, skills and capacity for hard and hand. sustained work. It would be my privilege and duty to serve all sections of the people The general law and order situation is of this country and to do whatever is showing signs of strain. The creeping sense possible to strengthen the moral and of restlessness amongst the people on this economic strength of the country and to score will be effectively checked. improve the quality o f life.

73 14

CHARAN SINGH’S SPEECH ON INDEPENDENCE DAY

N his Independence Day speech from While reiterating India’s desire to the ramparts of the Red Fort on refrain from manufacturing nuclear August IS, 1979 the Prime Minister, weapons, the Prime Minister referred to the Shri Charan Singh, appealed to all the reported efforts of Pakistan to manufacture secular and democratic forces in the nuclear bomb and said that if our neighbour country to strengthen the hands o f the persisted in its determination to Government in eradicating poverty, manufacture the bomb, his Government and unemployment and in rooting out the Indian people would be compelled to corruption and communalism. review the entire question.

In a direct reference to the recent Following is the free translation in developments at the Centre, the Prime English of the Prime Minister’s speech in Minister reiterated that if other parties or Hindi leaders were able to demonstrate their majority, his Government will not stay even We are today celebrating the for a minute. thirtysecond anniversary of our Independence. It was through the sacrifice On the question of mid-term poll, and endeavour of Mahatma Gandhi and Shri Charan Singh said that while he and other leaders that the country won its his colleagues did not favour it, yet they independence after 200 years of the British would be prepared to seek the people’s rule. On this occasion it is only proper mandate. that we pay our homage to the Father of

74 Chaudhry Charan Singh Prime Minister of India addressing the Nation on the Independence Day, August 15, 1979 from the Red Port.

The Prime Minister Ch. Charan Singh taking Salute at the Red Fort on the of Independence Day. The Prime Minister Mr. Charan Singh inspecting a Guard of Honour at the Red Fort on the Independence Day. Chaudhry Charan Singh ishere i taking part in J. P.’s people's March held in New Delhi in May 1975. The Prime Minister Chaudhry CharanSingh called on the Karnataka

Chief Minister Mr. Dev Raj Urs in New Delhi on July 28, 1979. The Railway

Minister Mr. T.A. Pai is also seen in the picture. the Nation and other colleagues. However, Congress, Janata (S) andother partners I just paying homage will not be enough. have mentioned, will be able to form a First of all, I would like to say a few things united party which will be able to secure to you in the twenty minutes I have got at majority throughout the country. my disposal and I hope you will hear me patiently. Poverty—Problem No. 1

The recent change in the Central Among the number of problems facing Government was brought about in a this country, the most serious is poverty. peaceful and democratic manner. A variety Of the 125 nations of the world, our of things are said by people in this regard. position is 111th which means that there They say this is an SVD Government and are 110 countries which are more affluent ask how will it run ? But I would like to than us. Three years ago our position was tell you that the Janata Government also 104th and during this period we have slided was an SVD Government. It had one label down to the 111th position. This speaks of and yet it was an SVD Government with the level of our poverty. many constituents. I would not go into details but would only mention that some The second problem is of persons tried to discard the ladder with the unemployment. From the time the Janata help of which they had stepped up to the Party took up the reigns of power, 25 lakh seats of power. 1 had publicly expressed more young unemployed have registered my disagreement with my closest ally, their names with the Employment Shri Raj Narain, on 24th of June. But the Exchanges. Unemployment thus is on the events that took place after that forced me increase. In the rural areas both educated and my colleagues to leave that SVD and uneducated are unemployed. In the Government. Today Congress, the cities too the educated unemployed are on Janata (S) and our friends in the Socialist the streets. Therefore, we have to eradicate Party, the Peasants and Workers Party of unemployment. Maharashtra and Communist Party members, who had expressed themselves in The third problem we face in the favour of this Government in the last week economic field is the growing disparity of July, together have a strength of 200 and between the poor and the affluent. This more; call it SVD or what you like. The disparity existed even at the time of the day the other people, or the parties or British. In a small measure, this disparity leaders are able to form a larger party and exists everywhere and it will be impossible challenge us and the moment we feel that to erase it completely. But that we are in a minority, we will not hesitate Government alone will be considered good even for a minute to step down. which minimises this disparity, instead of letting it increase further. Since I and my colleagues do not want a independence, in our country the gap mid-term poll which is very expensive and between the rich and the poor has increased creates lot of problems. But I think no and economic power is getting concentrated party wants a mid-term poll. If, however, in the hands of a few people. we have to go in for one, we will come to you to seek your vote and confidence. I Besides, social tensions persist. I would have every hope that in that event, the not like to go into the reasons for this.

75 But the poor, the harijans and the weaker wholesale traders that they should desist sections are not feeling secure. The being greedy and earning profits that will minorities, that is the followers of religions only hurt our people and our country. We other than Hindu, have also begun to sense are determined not to allow black-marketing similar tension. The reasons may be and profiteering that has continued so far; historic and need not be elaborated just we will not permit it to continue. now. It will be the endeavour of this Government to eliminate the root causes of Enough Food Stocks these continuing tensions and establish peace and prosperity in the country. We Friends, all of us know which sections will be deemed more or less, to have of our people deserve Government help succeeded only if no communal riots are most. But before I go into that, I would reported for one year or for the tenure of like to tell that despite the rise in prices of this Government. certain commodities, we are not short of foodgrains; our warehouses are full and for Inflation that, we should be grateful to the farmers. The farmers will continue to work hard, Friends, one immediate problem before even if the rain-fall is scanty or there is no us is price rise. In the last two Five Year rain. Therefore, so far as foodgrains are Plans, investment for cement, coal and concerned, the country will not face any power production was meagre and in the shortage. Another silver lining is that we last six months of Janata Government, that have no shortage of foreign exchange and is from January to June 1979, these sectors this can help us import things needed by the were handled indifferently. Coal, power, country. rail-movement are critical sectors, which have an impact on the total economy. In I was referring to the sections which addition, there have been strikes and ships deserve greater attention from the held-up at ports unloaded for as long as one Government—the harijans, the tribals, month and even 45 days. The result of all the land-less, the unemployed or this has been the rise in price level. This under-employed and 50 per cent o f our Government and my colleages in the farmers who have got an hectare or less of Departments will make every effort to see land. These poorer sections have so far that production increases. They will not been neglected and the Government will be confining themselves to Delhi, they will pay special attention towards them. go to the power plants and to the coal According to the latest estimates o f the mines. Planning Commission, 48 per cent of these living below the poverty line are in the As long as production does not increase villages and 41 per cent in the towns. These and the prices keep going up, this country are the ones, who do not get even frugal will never be able to progress. meals to feed themselves. You can ask a question as to why there is hunger when our Another thing to be noted is that the silos are full of foodgrains. The reason is prices o f even such commodities as that they do not have the purchasing power. foodgrains etc., which are not in short Even if there is plenty of food around, a supply are also increasing. In this man will remain hungry if he does not have connection I would appeal to the retail and the money to buy it. Therefore, the 76 Government will pay the utmost attention percentage remained static in 1961 and to.the poor and the hungry, 41 per cent of again in 1971. Industry cannot grow whom live behind the big palaces and unless agriculture also develops. There is bungalows in the cities and 48 per cent of no other way. We will, therefore, attempt whom live in the villages. If we cannot to encourage cottage and village industries give them the attention they deserve, the in the rural areas. Government will not be fit to remain in power. Our women folk today break stones on the roads. What were their forefathers Cottage and Village Industries engaged in ? They were independently engaged in small industries or were It will be our endeavour that everyone craftsmen. These crafts were lost during in the country finds employment. For this the time of British and we too continue to we have to pay special attention to be indifferent in this respect. Our emphasis increasing agricultural production and therefore, will be to establish cottage establishing cottage and village industries. industries in the villages. We will also When the Britishers came here first, 25 strive to increase farm production. It will per cent of our population was engaged in also be our endeavour to assist the rural such industries. Today, despite big plants people to diversify to other occupations and factories, only nine per cent of the because prosperity cannot be achieved if population is engaged in industries. majority of our people continue to depend Therefore, despite lakhs of cars and large on land. number of skyscrapers in Bombay and Delhi and the number of people who have Friends, it being the convention, I may televisions and radio sets, I feel that we are not be able to address you for more than today poorer and weaker than in the time twenty minutes. I very much wanted to of Jahangir and Aurangzeb and the 150 talk about a few things, but I would rather years of disorder from 1707 to 1857. leave them there.

To my friends in the cities, I would say I would like to draw your attention as that I am not inclined to answer the well as the attention of my colleagues and criticism appearing in the newspapers or public workers to the teachings of Mahatma the comments that various people make. I Gandhi. Mahatmaji used to say that “ends would like to say only that trade, transport don’t justify means.” It is as though you and industries can develop only when there can adopt any means to achieve your is purchasing power with the people. If the objectives, howsoever noble. To be able villagers, the unemployed and the poors do to achieve noble objectives, your means not have the purchasing power, our should also be equally noble. You, and industries will not be able to develop and especially the public workers and all of us the country will not be able to attain should keep in mind this advice; otherwise affluence. Only that country is considered we will not be able to root out corruption. affluent which has a larger percentage of Corruption knows no bounds. A country people engaged in non-agricultural where people are corrupt, will never be able occupations. In our country, however, to progress whosoever may be the Leader of only 10 per cent of the population was Party or whatever be the sound programme engaged in industries in 1951 and this he might follow.

77 Mahatmaji also used to say that for a will reach the same conclusion the day after public worker, there is no private life tomorrow. different from his public life. For him, life is one and there is no compartmentalisation. So far as the countries of South Asia If a man’s public life is not clean, you can are concerned, our relations with them have well imagine, his private life cannot be any improved, barring some cases, where too better either and he cannot truly serve the we hope there will be improvement in our country. relations.

The third thing, Gandhiji always In this conncction I would like to emphasised and which we have tended to mention our neighbour, Pakistan, whose forget is that “rights flow out of duties well people, till the other day, were part of us. performed.” All around, you will find Our information is that Pakistan is trying people asserting their rights, their demands to manufacture nuclear bomb. Against to secure better wages and allowances. This whom are they making this bomb ? They is all right. It is necessary that people are friends with China; and with Russia should have their rights but their rights they have not disputes. As for Afghanistan, emerge from their duties and responsibilities. it is a small country and Pakistan has no How do we get our rights if we do not disputes with it either. If, therefore, I and carry out our duties ? There is need for my colleagues as also my countrymen reach hard work and enterprise. If you want to the conclusion that this bomb is aimed at be prosperous, you will have to put in hard us, is aimed at India, then our conclusion work. You will pardon me, if I say that we will not be far from the truth. arc not prepared to put in hard work. If you look at the other countries, you will It has been our decision and it remains find that people start working in their our decision so far that we do not want to factories, schools and offices at 8 O’ Clock manufacture nuclear bombs, or join the race in the morning till 5.00 in the evening, for nuclear weapons. However, if Pakistan getting a break of 40 minutes in between. sticks to its decision and continues in its There are very few strikes. The emphasis efforts to manufacture the bomb or there on demands is much less. In Japan, stockpiling of these bombs, I and my if a worker is annoyed, he only bears a colleagues will probably be forced to black band on his arm and does not think reconsider the entire question. in terms of striking work. With these words, I would like to Coming to the foreign policy, we appeal all those democratic forces, who continue to adhere to the old policy of not believe in secularism, to cast aside their aligning ourselves with any particular bloc. petty differences, and come forward to help This will continue to be our policy because me and my colleagues and my Government. we consider it to be beneficial to- the country—we will not be particularly inclined towards any country however big it might be. We believe that in the world, peace can be achieved and people can find happiness only by following the preachings of Mahatma Gandhi. If not today, the world

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Hooda’s uncle Chaudhry Tek Ram and his second uncle Chaudhry Ram Sarup had been member o f Punjab Legislative Council and Assembly for over two decades. They were the right hand men of late Sir Chhotu Ram and helped him in forming Unionist Party in Punjab.

Hooda was first introduced to Chaudhry Charan Singh when he was Chief Minister of U.P. in 1967. He also worked as Publicity ABOUT THE AUTHOR Secretary for the B.K.D. and the B.L.D. Parties founded by Chaudhry Charan Singh. Radha Krishan Hoods Since 1967, Hooda remained constantly in touch with the Chaudhry and closely R.K. Hooda is a well known journalist. watched his quick rise to the Office of the He began his journalistic career in The Prime Minister after joining the Desai Hindustan Times. Later, he joined The Government in 1977. This biography is the Statesman and continued with it for twelve result o f Hooda’s long and close association years from I960 to 1972. Hooda had also with the Chaudhry. Now-a-days Hooda worked for The Times o f India, Indian is Chairman of the All India Young Fann­ Express, National Herald and The Tribune. ers Conference.

Born on March 19, 1932 in village Khidwali of Rohtak district, Hooda gradua­ ted from Government College, Rohtak in 1954. After studying Law at the Punjab University Law College, he joined his father’s weekly the Bharat Tek as Editor in 19S8. He worked as the Focus Editor of theShakti Weekly published from New Delhi for some time.

He belongs to a prominent agriculturist family which has produced eminent politi­ cians. His father Chaudhry Hari Ram was a leading Advocate of Haryana who had the honour of contesting four Presidential Elections in India.