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HT This Day: July 28, 1979 -- Morarji resigns JLP leadership
Disturbed by the recent developments which “brought us down to the lowest possible level of political conduct and behaviour” Mr Morarji Desai today stepped down from the leadership of the Janata Parliamentary Party.
Disturbed by the recent developments which “brought us down to the lowest possible level of political conduct and behaviour” Mr Morarji Desai today stepped down from the leadership of the Janata Parliamentary Party.
He announced his decision to retire from active political life, indicating he might resign from the membership of the Lok Sabha also.
However, when the new leader of the party, Mr Jagjivan Ram, accompanied by party president Chandra Shekhar, JPP deputy leaders, general secretaries and several MPs approached him with the request that he should continue to . be available to the party- to provide guidance as a respected leader, Mr Desai agreed to review his decision, saying “I will think over it”.
In his resignation letter addressed to the two deputy leaders of the party. Mr Desai briefly stated the cause of his anguish. But, evidently, he was prompted by the desire to “atone” for his own share in the ‘foulness of the atmosphere”. The fact that he signed “under pressure of time” the list which contained the names of members who were not supporting him in the race for Prime Minister ship, made him feel it was his moral duty to own responsibility for it, although he could have taken the stand that it had not been done at his stance.
Mr Desai also made it known he would not attend the general body meeting of the party called today.
After consultation among them- selves, the office-bearers of the JPP and the leader of the party in the Rajya Sabha also tendered their resignations. The general body did not accept them. Instead, it was decided to refer them to the new leader, Mr Jagjivan Ram.
The office-bearers include, two deputy leaders: Mr Mahmud Ali Khan (Lok Sabha), Mr Sundes Singh Bhandari (Rajya Sabha), general secretaries, Mr Digvijai Narain Singh and Dr Murli Manohar Joshi (Lok Sabha) and Mr N. P. C. Naidu (Rajya Sabha) and the treasurer, Mr Ram Dhan. The leader of the party in the Rajya Sebha is Mr L. K. Advani.
Moved by Mr Samar Guha, a resolution was adopted at the meeting, placing on record the party’s “profound and affectionate gratitude” to Mr Desai for his “invaluable services”.
The resolution recalled the contribution of Mr Desai in the fight against the forces of authoritarianism and dictatorship during the emergency and later in bringing together the different political parties that merged in the Janata Party, and in giving shape to the ideology and programme of the party. The resolution pointed out Mr Desai’s dedication to the spirit that animated the emergence and the character of the Janata Party, and the impartiality and fairness with which he led the party had been factors that helped in cementing the various political forces that came together in the Janata Party, and enabled the party to provide leadership and an efficient Government to the country.
Recounting Mr Desal’s role in the freedom struggle and later in the governance of the country, the resolution said Mr Desal’s devotion to the muse of Harijans, Adivasis, the minorities, the socially and economically backward sections of the people and his devotion to a high code of conduct and rectitude in public life would also be a source of inspiration to the members of the party. He had always stood for secularism, democracy and national integration, and fought authoritarianism and communalism all his lite, drawing inspiration from his belief in a Gandhian social order that eliminates all exploitation.
Following is the text of Mr Desai’s letter to Mr Chandra Shekhar:
I have been pondering over the events of the last few days and have been considering the duty that I owe to myself, the party and the country at this hour.
We have all been condemning defection in no uncertain terms and have reiterated our determination to prevent it by legislation. No one even in his wildest imagination could however, have considered that defection would take place in the manner in which it did, and the grounds on which such defections were sought to be justified. One had come to overlook much that was improper and unprincipled: But I cannot held the feeling that what occurred during the past few days brought us down to the lowest possible level of political conduct and behaviour. Utter cynicism held full sway.
In such an atmosphere, I have been particularly concerned at the allegation that I had been responsible for deliberate falsehood in including some names from the Congress Party among the list of my supporters. It was my intention to subject every name to careful scrutiny before presenting it to the president.
I was under the impression that I had sufficient time to do so as I thought that I had been given one more day by the President on the 23rd at my request, and that I could submit the list on the 26th. On the 25th morning, however, the President desired that the list be submitted that very afternoon by 400 p-m. and refused to give the extra time even though he had told me on the 23rd that I could take one more day when I asked for it. However, the fact remains that under pressure of time, I submitted the list over my signature which included names of those who in the event turned out not to have agreed to support my Government. I must take full responsibility and blame for this even though I could urge that the inclusion had not been made at my instance.
I have, after deep reflection, come to the conclusion that I, at least, should not even appear in any way to add to the foulness of the atmosphere of our political life. I have decided that it is my moral duty to atone for the lapse, and I, accordingly, resign from the leadership of the Janata Parliamentary Party. I shall not hereafter take part in any political activity. I am also giving thought to the advisability of resigning from the Lok Sabha. I shall take a decision on this shortly.
With regards,
Yours sincerely
(Morarji Desai)
