ASSEMBLY POLL '98
COMMENTARY
SPECIALS
INTERVIEWS
CAPITAL BUZZ
REDIFF POLL
DEAR REDIFF
THE STATES
YEH HAI INDIA!
ELECTIONS '98
ARCHIVES

Pune to intensify stir over Bhatia transfer

The Pune Citizens Action Committee has decided to intensify its agitation for the reinstatement of former Pune municipal commissioner Arun Bhatia.

The decision was taken after the PCAC's talks with Chief Minister Narayan Rane failed yesterday, former bureaucrat Avinash Dharmadhikari told the media. He led the PCAC delegation to the CM.

''Our talks with the chief minister have failed. Therefore we have decided to resort to rasta roko in Pune on Tuesday and Wednesday. A Pune bandh will also be organised after the examinations are over. Soon I will sit on a fast-unto-death.''

The four Pune Municipal Corporation unions will also demonstrate in front of the Pune civic headquarters on March 26, he informed.

The delegation submitted a memorandum to the chief minister which was signed by eight eminent persons including Jayant Narlikar, noted writer P L Deshpande and social worker Anna Hazare besides 150,000 people from Pune.

Referring to the demands, Dharmadhikari said Bhatia should be reinstated. ''If the government is unable to do this, it should either ask for an explanation from him for his 'alleged' indiscipline or file a chargesheet against him in the court.''

He said Rane did not accept the demand.

UNI

Tell us what you think of this report