VALLABHBHAI PATEL’S STATEMENT July 9, 1937

[Prof. Dr. Yogendra Yadav]

Prof. Dr. Yogendra Yadav

Gandhian Scholar

Gandhi Research Foundation, Jalgaon, Maharashtra, India

Contact No. – 09415777229, 094055338

E-mail- [e-mail];[e-mail]

 

 

VALLABHBHAI PATEL’S STATEMENT July 9, 1937

 

 

 I have remained studiously silent regarding the unfortunate controversy that has been going on in the Press about the election of leader of the Congress Parliamentary Party in the Bombay Legislative Assembly. I feel that the time has now come for me to make a brief statement for the information of the public. Shri Nariman has suggested that I intervened in an unwarranted manner in the election of the leader. He has persisted in this charge, although Gangadharrao Deshpande and Shankarrao Deo, the two individuals most concerned, have emphatically repudiated it. As is well known, the bulk of the members of the Legislature have also repudiated the charge in writing. I now say with a full sense of responsibility that I have never, directly or indirectly, influenced this election. What happened was this: on the morning of the 4th of March, Nariman came to me and asked me for a private interview. I readily agreed. At his suggestion it was then arranged that we should go for a drive in the evening to Worli. Accordingly he came and took me in his car to Worli. He asked me to help him in the election. I told him I could not do so for reasons which I had already indicated to him. At the same time, I also told him that I would not use my influence against him, or support anyone else. Certain telegrams sent by me to Shri Gangadharrao Deshpande and Shri Shankarrao Deo have been quoted as proof of my intervention against Nariman. Both Gangadharrao and Shankarrao have stated in unambiguous terms that the telegrams were not connected with the election of Nariman. It is a matter of common knowledge that I have frequently entrusted Nariman with responsible tasks, which I felt he was the right person to discharge. I have no personal grudge against him. The suggestion that Nariman was not elected because he belonged to a minority community is false and malicious. I am glad that Nariman has himself admitted that there was nothing communal in the matter. Gangadharrao had informed Nariman on my behalf that if the allegations were to be investigated by a tribunal, I would abide by its award.