Swarajya, May 25, 1963
Between ourselves, honest voter, these private monopolies created by the pernicious system of permits, licences, quotas and controls (to be extended now even to foreign capital which voluntarily comes into the private sector) make the Congress Party's rich friends richer, and the poor poorer. It is a close conspiracy; we have a battle between money and liberty, between dharma and atheism, between freedom and communism clothed in Congress robes.
It is a matter of common knowledge that when political parties come to actual administration there is little difference between them. But, then, why do they fight with one another? Because the basic principles of the parties affect policy in a subtle manner. They affect the pace at which policies are pursued and make all the difference between a happy and a troubled State. The Swatantra Party believes in the individual, whereas the Congress believes in the State. The Swatantra Party believes in the citizen’s liberty and in limited governments and in free enterprise. The Congress Party, on the other hand, believes in utmost authority for the State in law as well as in daily practice. The Congress Party believes that individuals are more often dishonest than honest whereas the State and its officials can be always trusted. The Swatantra Party believes that maximum efficiency is obtained through private management. The Congress Party looks on private management as an evil which must be reduced to the smallest proportions. The Swatantra Party believes that the State and its management are conceptual and not factual; the actual functioning agents are individuals who are as honest or dishonest as others and who, when invested with power and opportunity, are inescapably liable to become selfish and dishonest. The Swatantra Party wants people not to forget that the State has no arms or legs but can only work through ministers and officials who are not angels and are no different from men not holding office. Above all, the Swatantra Party believes that apathy and indifference characterize public management whereas the profit motive results in vigilance and good husbandry. Summing up, the Swatantra Party believes that the production of national wealth is best done through individuals with a keen and well-protected interest in such production, and that the business of the State is to watch and prevent abuses and not to get itself into the kitchen and make a mess of things.
