Maharajahs See Breach Of Faith

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31448, 15 August 1967, Page 15

Maharajahs See Breach Of Faith

fN.ZP.A.-R*ut«l—CoppriohtJ NEW DELHI, August 14. India’s maharajahs yesterday called on the ruling Congress Party to withdraw its resolution which urges the Government to strip them of their privy purses and privileges. A two-day secret representative meeting of India’s former princely rulers ended

in New Delhi with a statement which described political moves to end the purses and privileges agreements as “nothing short of a breach of faith.” India’s former rulers were granted these privy purses, which at present amount to about 50 million rupees a year when they agreed to merge their States with an independent India. The Maharajah Gaekwat of Baroda told reporters there was no question of negotiat-

Ing with the Government since there was no doubt the privy purses were meant to be permanent Asked whether these purses and privileges were in keeping with India’s present democratic position, the Maharajah said the merger agreements had nothing to do with democracy. “Thirty years ago you would have had my elephant parked outside. Now I have not even got a driver—l drive myself," he said.