A bruised H-east ward boss warns of retaliation

The letter says, “It is appealed to the police to initiate strict action against the people who displayed vulgarity and the matter pursued.

Otherwise, these incidents will be repeated and the ward officestaff will be forced to retaliate in self defence.” It describes the assault as “a deliberate, heinous act of abusing, threatening and obstructing the municipal staff from discharging their statutory duty.”

Speaking to Express Newsline today, Ghatge-Patil said about 40 people led by Singh got abusive the moment Rokde and he emerged out of a zonal meeting on Wednesday. The delegation members were angry because they were made to wait while the meeting was in progress. “They had not sought an appointment and hence were asked to wait as the meeting was on,” said Patil adding, “They even pulled my shirt and also attacked assistant engineer Asha Wadke.”.Rokde then decided not to meet the unruly delegation. Following a delay in police arriving at the scene, State Reserve Police was called in and Rokde was escorted out of the office.

Patil added his office had no role to play in the dispute that the delegation wanted to discuss with Rokade. It’s a petty dispute between two political leaders over a publictoilet.

While local corporator Radheshyam Chavan has already obtained a no-objection certificate (NOC) for constructing public toilet in the ward, Singh is now demanding that he should be granted a NOC for constructing toilets at the same spot. “It’s a matter they need to settle between themselves. There’s very little we can do about it.”

Singh, however, when contacted denied that he had gone to the ward office asking for a no-objection certificate. He even denied he was accompanied by party activist.

He maintained he had gone there with some residents to discuss civic problems.