Minoo Masani

Minocher Rustom "Minoo" Masani (20 November 1905 – 27 May 1998) was an Indian politician, a leading figure of the erstwhile Swatantra Party. He was a three-time Member of Parliament, representing Gujarat's Rajkot constituency in the second, third and fourth Lok Sabha. A Parsi, he was among the founders of the Indian Liberal Group think tank that promoted classical liberalism.

Quotes

Lok Sabha Debates (1950)

Lok Sabha Debates, 6 December 1950, cols. 1257–312. in **Arun Shourie - Self-Deception _ India's China Policies_ Origins, Premises, Lessons-Harper Collins (2013) ch 4

• May I suggest that there is also the other issue of peace or appeasement leading to war?

• In three different directions the Chinese Communist regime has shown its aggressive character: in Korea it is at war with United Nations forces, which are seeking to establish a free and united Korea; in Indo-China, where they have armed and sent Communist guerillas across the frontier as was done in Greece some years ago; and our own neighbours of Tibet are now having an invasion of their country.

• If this is the reward that comes to this country from one year’s friendship and advocacy, surely the least we can do is to reconsider our estimate of the Chinese Communist regime... While we might maintain diplomatic relations with the Chinese Government on a basis of reciprocity, there can be no longer any illusions about friendship, about cordiality and about comradeship in Asia.

• By the one act of attacking Tibet and deceiving the Indian Government after their assurances given repeatedly, they have shown their utter contempt for the idea that we embraced, namely, of a free and united Asia. They have cut Asia into two—Communist and non-Communist Asia. Those of us who are not prepared to go all the way with them must fall on the other side of the fence. In that setting and in the face of this remark which comes from the New China News Agency in the last few weeks, that ‘the Chinese People’s Liberation Army will hoist the Red Flag over the Himalayas,’ what are we to think of the friendship we may expect from them?