Anna wave hits Pune Festival,Mayor says ‘excuse me please’

Rajpal said that he had participated in public rallies during the agitation by citizens demanding the Lokpal bill. “I took part in the agitations since my party is also is in favour of an effective Lokpal bill,” he added.

The festival had already lost its sheen after star attraction Hema Malini,who has over the years been mesmerising the audience with her dance performances,dropped out. Congress city chief Abhay Chhajed had made a personal request to the mayor to participate in the festival,but he refused.

Rajpal could not attend the Pune Festival inauguration last year,too,as he was out of station.

The mayor said he was also upset as there has been no clearance from the state government for the civic body to organise the Shaniwarwada Festival. “The budgetary provision of Rs 50 lakh was made for Shaniwarwada Festival but the expenditure is likely to reach Rs 70 lakh. The state government has been asked to give its opinion as there are restrictions on using civic funds for cultural functions,” he said,adding that Shaniwarwada festival is likely to be called off if there is no state government clearance for it. Rajpal said he was in favour of PMC organising cultural functions for citizens during the Ganesh festival but activists from the city have been saying that only limited funds can be used for cultural functions.