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Journalism of Courage
PUNE, JUNE 8: The Punekar Nagarik Kriti Samiti which had spearheaded the Bring Back Bhatia8217; campaign is all set to back their crusader yet again by appealing to the people to gather in huge numbers outside the Pune Municipal Corporation on Wednesday 8211; when the historic motion urging the State Government to recall the municipal commissioner is likely to be passed by 129 corporators.
Avinash Dharmadhikari, former bureaucrat, social activist and the leading member of the samiti told The Indian Express on Monday that a series of meetings will be held in the city to muster support for Arun Bhatia. His efforts to bring about a truce between the warring officials and the high profile commissioner failed, though Bhatia assured to have a dialogue with anybody.
Officials also said that each file that was required was delivered to Bhatia. The embittered lot however refused to have any kind of discussion with Bhatia who caused them severe mental strain, they alleged. While Dharmadhikari said that he would pursue the efforts to bring about some kind of understanding, his attempt to sort out the issue was in vain as Mayor Datta Gaikwad refused to budge from his stand.
Dharmadhikari had offered to bring Bhatia and the elected representatives as well as warring officials on a common platform for a dialogue, pending which he asked the corporators to defer their no-confidence motion against Bhatia scheduled to be discussed in the general body on Wednesday.
The Mayor said that he would convey his decision to Dharmadhikari after holding a meeting with party leaders and office bearers in the PMC. Gaikwad pointed out that since the no-confidence motion had beenmoved by all the parties and had become the property of the House, he could not take an unilateral decision and the decision on the withdrawal of the motion would be taken by the House.
Dharmadhikari who also held a meeting of the Samiti decided to agitate for retaining the municipal commissioner. 8220;We had earlier agitated for his reinstatement for a full term of two to three years and expect him to steer a clean and efficient civic administration,8221; he said. To this effect, the Samiti will hold several meetings before gathering outside the gates of the PMC on Wednesday.
