Swarajya, April 16, 1960
What is wrong with the Congress Party? We oppose that party because it has adopted socialism as its creed. That there should be social justice and social co-operation is common ground. But socialism is not the way to these objectives. Socialist policies must lead to the gradual and complete centralization of all real power in the State at the cost of individual freedom, initiative and enterprise. The bureaucracy at all levels becomes master, holding the strings of all the elements of the economic life of the people, and the citizens will be at its mercy at every point.
The Swatantra Party stands for the encouragement of individual initiative and enterprise by making it sure for every citizen that he enjoys the benefits resulting from his work. It stands for minimum regulation by the State and maximum freedom and initiative and enterprise for the citizen.
The State should not seek to be a new Zemindar or a giant capitalist but should take only what is necessary for its upkeep and for the protection and welfare of those who cannot help themselves. Officialdom should not seek to be the master of everything giving doles to the citizens out of the general till. The position should be the reverse. The producer should be entitled to what he produces and he should be asked to part with just what the State needs.
Socialist policies breed class jealousy, hatred and disharmony. They work to the detriment of all the productive processes necessary for increasing the country's prosperity. The Swatantra Party stands for harmony and mutual co-operation as against the class envy and hatred fostered for advancing the socialist pattern aimed at by the Congress Party.
The constructive work of the Swatantra members, in accordance with the philosophy of the party, should be a constant endeavour to get those whom they can influence, and who are in a fortunate position to help those who stand in need of help. They should seek ways and means to influence the wealthy to establish institutions and endow funds for the welfare of the less fortunate people.
A democracy is certain, sooner or later, to become a totalitarian tyranny if there is no party in opposition. The opposition party must stand for principles that counterbalance what forms the chief plank of the ruling party. This polarization is necessary to prevent democracy from becoming a field of adventurist experiment, on the one hand, or unjust class government, on the other.
Why do we oppose the ruling party and its administration? The answer is, because it is wasteful and inefficient and because the Congress Party works the administration for strengthening the party rather than for the good of the people. In this, they in no way differ from what the Communist Party is alleged to have done in Kerala. The ruling party is utilising the power and resources of the administration to strengthen itself to be elected to power over and over again.
And then the question arises, what is the harm if the Congress Party is strengthened? What is wrong with the Congress Party? We oppose that party because it has adopted socialism as its creed. That there should be social justice and social co-operation is common ground. But socialism is not the way to these objectives. Socialist policies must lead to the gradual and complete centralization of all real power in the State at the cost of individual freedom, initiative and enterprise. The bureaucracy at all levels becomes master, holding the strings of all the elements of the economic life of the people, and the citizens will be at its mercy at every point. This has already happened in great measure and is on the ascending curve. Industrialists and businessmen of all grades are today under fear of the Government and the official army, such as they never suffered in pre-Independence British rule.
Not only local initiative and autonomy but the freedom of occupation and other essential rights conferred by the Constitution on the citizen are undermined and made into a nullity. Centralization of power necessarily results in waste, inefficiency and favouritism at all levels.
The Swatantra Party stands for the encouragement of individual initiative and enterprise by making it sure for every citizen that he enjoys the benefits resulting from his work. It stands for minimum regulation by the State and maximum freedom and initiative and enterprise for the citizen.
The State should not seek to be a new Zemindar or a giant capitalist but should take only what is necessary for its upkeep and for the protection and welfare of those who cannot help themselves. Officialdom should not seek to be the master of everything giving doles to the citizens out of the general till. The position should be the reverse. The producer should be entitled to what he produces and he should be asked to part with just what the State needs. Socialist policies breed class jealousy, hatred and disharmony. They work to the detriment of all the productive processes necessary for increasing the country's prosperity. The Swatantra Party stands for harmony and mutual co-operation as against the class envy and hatred fostered for advancing the socialist pattern aimed at by the Congress Party.
The constructive work of the Swatantra members, in accordance with the philosophy of the party, should be a constant endeavour to get those whom they can influence, and who are in a fortunate position to help those who stand in need of help. They should seek ways and means to influence the wealthy to establish institutions and endow funds for the welfare of the less fortunate people. There should be a continuous activity to cause people to look upon their possessions as entrusted to them by the Almighty for being utilised as far as possible for the benefit of others. The party stands for the fostering of spiritual values and happiness through philanthropy, either general where possible or limited to select areas or communities where this is easier, so that in the end all may be benefited. This should be treated as the constructive work of the party to supplement its political work to reinforce the freedom of the citizens as against the inroads of the State and its claim to be the general manager of all professions and sole distributor of benefactions.
