NATIONAL POLITICS
On Confirmation of the Suspension of Shri George Fernandes, Shri Nitish Kumar and Ms. Jaya Jaitley from the Membership of the Samata Party.
This meeting of the National Executive held at 1, Jantar Mantar Road, New Delhi on December 9, 1995 endorses the suspension and subsequent expulsion of Shri George Fernandes, Shri Nitish Kumar and Ms. Jaya Jaitley by the Acting President Shri Syed Shahabuddin with a deep sense of sadness particularly because this action had to be taken against Shri Fernandes who has fought all his life for the empowerment of the working classes of our country. We acknowledge his profound empathy for the struggles of the Indian people, without any consideration of caste, creed, gender, religion or even ideology. A wide cross-section of political activists ranging from the RSS to militant youth in Andhra Pradesh, North-East and Kashmir had deep regard and trust in his sense of justice Democratic Socialist workers, whatever their party affiliation, had regarded him as one of the most courageous and dynamic leaders committed to the cause of socialism, i.e., an unambiguous commitment to secularism and the idea of equality in all spheres of existence: cultural, social, economic and political Since our defeat in the Bihar Assembly elections, Shri Fernandes was not the same person. On April 22-23, 1995, the national executive resolution stated:
"The National Executive believes that this situation is fraught with grave consequences, as it is out of such situations that seeds of fascism have sprouted elsewhere in the world. Only if all the socialist, democratic and secular forces come together to meet these challenges facing the nation will it be possible to steer the country to a safe destination".
The resolution concluded by saying that:
While exploring the possibilities of creating a socialist and radical alternative through strategic and tactical alliances with parties committed to social justice and economic freedom, the Samata Party must devote its energies to organizing the poor and exploited masses in urban and rural areas and leading their struggles against every form of injustice they are subjected to. It is only through such action will it be possible to fulfill our commitment to the people. Shri Fernandes, since this meeting, showed little desire and will to implement this resolution. On July 30, the Samata Parliamentary Party pleaded with him to take initiatives to explore the possibility of a larger unity with the National Front and the Samajwadi Party. Again Shr Fernandes did not act on this. Instead, he either ignore or tacitly endorsed the hobnobbing of Shri Nitish Kuma with the BJP. Patience, dialogue and moderation are important virtues of a democratic culture. This prevented us from precipitating any action against Shri Kumar. Bu all limits were surpassed when he alongwith Ms. Jaitley shared the dais of the BJP Convention in Bombay on November 9, 1995 as special guests of the BJP leadership. We were still hoping that Shri Fernandes would condemn and disown this event. Shri Harkishore Singh and Dr. S.S. Srivastava were therefore requested to meet Shri Fernandes to ascertain his position. We were shocked to learn that he asked them also to attend the BJP Convention. It was clear that this was a prelude to the announcement that Shri Fernandes, Shri Kumar and Ms. Jaitley would like to have an electoral adjustment with the BJP.
We are thus left with no option but to endorse the decision of the acting president to suspend Shri Fernandes, Nitish Kumar and Ms. Jaitley from the Party. We also authorize the acting President that if, within a week, we do not receive an unconditional apology from these three persons for their support to the BJP as well as a clear undertaking that they will not seek an electoral adjustment with a party that represents the most organized force of communalism and upper caste hegemony, then they will be expelled from the Party.
The glorious tradition of secularism as practiced by a majority of our people, the statement of Principles of the Samata Party adopted on August 19, 1994 and the Resolutions of our National Executive leave us with no choice but to part company with those who are seeking a relationship with the forces of communalism and disunity in the country.
On the Reorganization of the Samata Party
The Samata Party National Executive hereby appoints a reorganizing committee comprising the acting president, the leader of the Parliamentary Party, the Secretary General (the chief whip in Parliament). The national executive directs the leader of the parliamentary party to ask all members to undertake a pledge that no member of the parliament would entertain the idea of an electoral adjustment with the BJP and its allied parties. The leader is also authorized to expel those members who refuse to give such an undertaking and to inform the Speaker of the Lok Sabha accordingly. The executive directs the reorganizing committee to get a similar commitment from both the present and future office bearers of the Party.
