Swarajya, July 18, 1959
Private enterprise has its proper share in the economy of India. Indeed, it is the larger element, as well as the more useful sector from the point of view of employment potential. It is as patriotic to start and manage a good private business concern, be it in industry or in transport or in distribution as to be attached to a public managed industry, either as an official or propagandist patron-saint. The individual householder, the individual workman or trader, the firms, small and big are, if devoted honestly to their several functions, all serving society as much as, if not more than, the professional politician, and are doing patriotic work without specifically claiming the honour and the privileges of patriotism.. it is no more than mere allergy to dislike them.
The Swatantra Party holds the view that encouraging competition in industry and giving incentives for higher production are good for the public as well as for the private interests concerned.
There should be adequate safeguards against excessive prices and profits, where the competition itself does not secure that end.
The Swatantra Party stands for the restriction of State enterprise to undertakings related to national defence and such heavy and pioneering industries as are beyond the capacity of private enterprise to undertake or manage.
It believes that nothing is gained, but much is lost, by development programmes supported by crippling taxation and abnormal deficit financing.
It holds the view that taxation should be kept at levels which do not interfere with reasonable living standards, and not allow it to be so high or ubiquitous, as to prevent capital formation for expansion or for individual private enterprise.
Allergy is only an evolutionary mechanism of 'defence'; it is no answer or argument. The Prime Minister may have his dislikes and prejudices against the leaders of the Forum of Free Enterprise. But personal allergy, apart from being interesting, cannot dispose of issues or furnish an answer to reasoned objections. If people are to be swayed or satisfied on the basis of the allergies of their leaders, it would amount to just what has come to be known by the mysterious looking, but well understood phrase, 'personality cult.'
Private enterprise has its proper share in the economy of India, whether it be clearly admitted by the Congress Government or not. Indeed, it is the larger element as well as the more useful sector from the point of view of employment potential. It is as patriotic to start and manage a good private business concern, be it in industry or in transport or in distribution as to be attached to a public managed industry either as an official or propagandist patron-saint. The individual householder, the individual workman or trader, the firms, small and big are, if devoted honestly to their several functions, all serving society as much as, if not more than, the professional politician, and are doing patriotic work without specifically claiming the honour and the privileges of patriotism. The private sector is made up of these elements and it is no more than mere allergy to dislike them.
The Forum of Free Enterprise, I take it, is a forum for upholding the view that free enterprise is patriotic service and, for meeting attacks on it by those who believe that State management is better than private management, just because it is done exclusively on behalf of the public as distinguished from private interests.
The Swatantra Party holds the view that encouraging competition in industry and giving incentives for higher production are good for the public as well as for the private interests concerned. There should be adequate safeguards against excessive prices and profits where the competition itself does not secure that end. If the Forum of Free Enterprise holds this same view, it is not understandable why it should be treated as untouchable or unapproachable. This is what I call raising allergy to the level of proof. It politics moves that way, it will certainly be lapsing into a cult of personal worship. The Swatantra Party stands for the restriction of State enterprise to undertakings related to national defense and such heavy and pioneering industries as are beyond the capacity of private enterprise to undertake or manage. It believes that nothing is gained, but much is lost by development programmes supported by crippling taxation and abnormal deficit financing. It holds the view that taxation should be kept at levels which do not interfere with reasonable living standards for the people and not allow it to be so high and exacting, or ubiquitous, as to prevent capital formation for expansion or for individual private enterprise. If the Forum of Free Enterprise also stands for these principles, must we give them up for that reason or treat the gentlemen of the Forum as untouchable on the ground of the PM's allergy? It is unfair for the Prime Minister to seek to spread unreasoned prejudice against a group of people who have associated themselves for an open and honest public purpose. It is in fact a system of that class hatred which I deplore as involved in the kind of socialism that is now being preached.
If I believe that social justice and welfare are best brought about if they are done without State compulsion, with all its usual accompaniments of injustice, expropriation, repudiation of obligations and bureaucratic harassment, must I discard the assistance of those engaged in business and industry who believe likewise and wish to assist us in stemming the onset of State-control and in organizing political opposition to it? If private enterprise is to continue, private capitalism must continue, and it cannot be put down as one of the 'deadly sins’.
The story is broadcast that the Swatantra Party has plentiful finance flowing from the private sector. I wish it were true, for there is nothing more dishonourable in it than the proved and admitted flow of money from the same elements into the Congress election fund which has been expressly legalized. Official power is alas more effective than any identity of political purpose. I have said that I wish it were true, because we have still to see the truth of the public expectation of a large flow of funds from businessmen into our coffers. We have to work in a context where all the businessmen in the country are held to thraldom under the policies of taxation and control that are in operation. The agencies for intimidation and harassment which are at the disposal of the Central and the various State governments are far too ubiquitous and powerful for just causes and motives to operate without fear, when they are opposed to the ruling party.
But the Swatantra Party is a national movement rather than a party. If there is strength and grit in the nation to resist the totalitarianism that is in the offing, all fear and hesitancy will dissolve and disappear and we shall move on under God's care, whoever is there or not there. It is really a movement of emancipation and the youth of the country are more interested in it than the older men. Some of us are in the forefront not because we represent any particular interest or a trade union of seniors but because our experience guides us in this direction. Youth and intelligence have been boycotted or misled by the totalitarians. We detest the slogans of class and caste hatred that come too easily to hand in political rivalries. We wish to release youth from the spell cast over them and from the political indifference to which they have been relegated.
