SHRI MC SHAH: Sir, I Thought That at This Stage It Was
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3277 Half-an-hour Discussion— [ COUNCIL ] Travancore-Cochin 3278 Ministni 6 P.M. HALF-AN-HOUR DISCUSSION RE. TRAVANCORE-COCHIN MINISTRY SHRI M. MANJURAN (Travancore- Cochin) : Mr. Deputy Chairman, on 10th December, in reply to Starred Question No. 23S, the Minister for States informed the Council that there was some agitation in Travancore-Cochin regarding the continuance of the Ministry then: by parties opposed to it. He also informed us that he had not tendered [For English translation, see Appendix any advice to the Ministry or the Rajpramukh VI, Annexure No. 155.] there, but later, confronted by supplementaries, he had to admit that he had SHRI M. C. SHAH: Sir, I thought that at this said at Ernakulam on the 1st November 1953 stage it was not proper for Members to object that he had not only given his consent but also to the demand which has already been passed. his full support to the continuance of the I found that two Members from that side had Ministry. On a question by Mr. C. G. K. welcomed this provision lor elections and Reddy he informed us that he had nobody asked for any particulars. I had all consultations with the Travancore-Cochin those particulars and I would have gladly State Ministers and that he had advised them supplied all those particulars but nobody de- to go ahead. manded them. I feel that Members opposite and my friend Mr. Manjuran also must be The disturbing conflicts or discrepancies in happy that we are holding elections soon, in these statements are fraught with serious March, and he ought to have congratulated the consequences on an issue of such a vital States Ministry or the Home Ministry for nature. I crave your indulgence to present you holding elections very early as was promised the background of it chronologically. After by the Prime Minister. Now, at the third the last general elections, the Congress could reading he is asking for those items. He knows secure only 44 seats in the Travancore-Cochin that in a democratic set up and with adult suff- Legislative Assembly consisting of 108 rage, we have to provide for polling booths, members. Although initially they were the staff have to be provided with salaries, diffident to accept office, owing probably to their dearness allowances, travelling higher persuasions they did accept office and allowances, the printing charges, the nominated one Anglo-Indian member to swell conveyance and so many other things have to their strength. Later they found that it was not be provided for. Therefore, there cannot be a possible to work with that precarious minority break up here now when we are considering and made a coalition with the Tamil Nad the Bill at its third reading. I feel that the Congress Party of nine members. Thus their objections raised now are not proper and that total strength came to 54 in a House of 109. the House should throw them out and return This coalition was destined to be terminated the Bill to the House. with the break-down of the negotiations be- MR. DEPUTY CHAIRMAN: The o tween the leaders of the Indian Nat'.cnal iestkn is. Congress and the Tamil Nad Congress in "That the Bill be returned." Delhi and it really broke The motion was adopted. 3279 Half-an-hour Discussion— [ 22 DEC. 1953 ] Travancore-Cochin 3280 Ministry down. No sooner was the news flashed than to them, they hurried to Delhi and had the Chief Minister of Travancore-Cochin and consultations with the States Minister. It was the Finance Minister came to New Delhi. at the instance of, and on the advice tendered Newspaper reports had it that they met the by, the States Minister that they thought of States Minister more than once and had continuing the Ministry. It was not according consultations with him. On his return to the to any constitutional provisions. They were State, the Chief Minister, Mr. A. J. John, not sure of their ground. They were rather informed the Press that he had instructions overwhelmed by the circumstances that were from the Centre for action in case of defection enveloping around them. of the Tamil Nad Congress Party. And on the Sir, the States Minister in the course of his 15th September the Tamil Nad Congress various replies has stated that he had advised member on the Council of Ministers resigned. The Assembly was summoned for the 21st the Travancore-Cochin Ministry, that he had September and on the 22nd September Mr. A. given them the consent to continue and J. John, the Chief Minister moved a motion of further he had also promised to give them confidence. It was debated the next day and their support. That I take it. Sir, is a threat. I was lost by 56 votes to 51. Immediately after know the States Minister has the right to the defeat of the confidence motion he advise the Travancore-Cochin Ministry under repaired to the Rajpramukh and advised him article 371 of the Indian Constitution; I am to dissolve the Legislative Assembly, and it not objecting to it. He can give his consent, was dissolved on the night of the 23rd because he has got the authority and he can September. also promise his support because this great nation of India has got a large army, naval Now, I have to ask the States Minister and air strength and he can make use of all through you, Sir, whether Mr. A. J. John had these to support his Ministry against the not relayed the same advice, tendered by the people of Travancore-Cochin. I am not ques- States Minister, to the Rajprnmukh. If that tioning that. But I am questioning one other were the case, we cannot understand the con- thing. Had he the right above this Parliament, tention that the Central Government had not to surpass the authority of this Parliament, interfered in the affairs of the Travancore- and advise the Travancore-Cochin Ministry in Cochin ministerial crisis. They have this matter? He has to account for that if he definitely interfered. The vote of confidence had tendered advice. And if he wanted to was not occasioned by any serious rift over a conceal it from us, had he the right to do that? matter of public policy. The Ministry neither That is the question that is paramount to me. resigned nor gave a chance for the Opposition Before us, the devotees in this sanctuary of to form a Ministry in spite of the Leader of human rights and before this very country the the Opposition writing to the Rajpramukh and States Minister was anxious to keep all this informing every one publicly that he was pre- knowledge away from us. What prompted pared, and that he had the necessary support, him to do this? And later when he was caught to form a Ministry. red-handed, when he had to admit on his own that he had given advice, he had given Those were the circumstances under which consent and he had also promised them the constitutional crisis in Travancore-Cochin support, he threatened us saying that he would has taken place. Several are the intriguing go on giving the same advice if a situation did points arising out of this. The Ministry in arise again. That was too much to be Travancore-Cochin did not know what to do. palatable. Between his initial denial and his That was why, as soon as the news of the later swearing he tore the child of Indian defection of the Tamil Nad Congress Party democracy was made known 3281 Half-an-hour Discussion— [ COUNCIL ] Travancore-Cochin 3282 Ministry [Shri M. Manjuran.] to pieces. He, a SHRI M. MANJURAN: Sir. I am closing. disciple of the great Mahatma, the follower of the system 01 ahimsa and truth, had no I have only to refer to certain aspects of the business to conceal this from us. Never Constitution. To certain questions raised by has been truth so much misrepresented, Prof. Ranga he said that he did not want long never has been dishonesty more manifest, nor arguments. I immediately understood that has a Minister conducted himself more lightly judgment was yet to come; it was only in the and that too in this temple of democracy. argument stage. Here. the. Indian Here was a conspiracy entered into between Constitution, article 356 says: the States Minister of the Union Government "If the President, on receipt of a and the Ministers of a State Government, .and report from the Governor or Raj- against whom? Against the people of pramukh of a State or otherwise, is that State. They were conspiring to satisfied that a situation has arisen continue a Government which had lost in which the government of the State the support of the Legislature, which had cannot be carried on.................. " been voted out of office, and yet the States SHRI K. S. HEGDE (Madras): Is Minister said there were precedents and that resignation recognised under the article of the that was the only constitutional practice that Constitution ? could be adopted. Constitutional practices had been growing up for centuries, but for SHRI M. MANJURAN: this particular practice there is no precedent "........... in. accordance with the in the annals of human history, I should say. provisions of this Constitution, the Never has such a thing happened. And President may by Proclamation— (a) then before us he has got the audacity to assume to himself all or any of the come and indulge in falsity only to escape the functions of the Government of the State final indictment.