VICE-PRESIDENT
INDIA
New Delhi
August 8, 1961.
My dear Rajaji,
Prime Minister spoke to me about
his correspondence with you. While in ordinary circumstances he would have
agreed with your suggestion that I should hoist the Flag and take the salute at
the Red Fort, in the present context he feels, and I agree with him, that it is
likely to be misunderstood.
We laughed at your sentence that
I would be able to climb the stairs!
I am glad I met you though I am sorry I was
not able to have a quiet chat with you.
Yours affectionately,
Dr. S. Radhakrishnan
Shri C. Rajagopalachari,
Bazlullah
Road,
Thyagarajanagar,
Madras - 17.
***
PERSONAL
& CONFIDENTAL
VICE-PRESIDENT
INDIA
New
Delhi
August 12, 1961
My dear Rajaji,
Thank you for your letter of
the 10th.
You are not quite fair to the
Prime Minister. He did not show me your letter. He merely quoted one or two
sentences. He had to do it since your suggestion was that I should take the
salute and unfurl the flag.
As you say, Jawaharlal Nehru
is a national hero and people are eager to listen to him.
Rajen Babu has been the
President from 26 January 1950 and all these years he had not unfurled the flag
and taken the salute at the Red Fort, whatever may be the reason. If this
August, when I am only discharging the functions of the President, I do so,
uncharitable people, of whom we have a good number in our country, will take
advantage and draw their own conclusions which will be most unfortunate.
I quite agree that civil servants and
defence forces should be kept out of party politics. We should not do anything
to involve them in party matters.
I trust you are getting
better.
Yours
affectionately,
Dr. S. Radhakrishnan
Shri C. Rajagopalachari,
Bazlullah Road,
Thayagarajanagar, Madras - 17.
Source: C. Rajagopalachari Papers (V Inst.), MSS Section
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