MC cancels Tandon’s event after faux pas

Ramkrishan Upadhyay
Tribune news service
Chandigarh, April 18

High drama was witnessed in the office of the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation after officials cancelled a blood donation camp to be organised by Competent Foundation of UT BJP president Sanjay Tandon at the Community Centre in Sector 48 tomorrow.

While the officials cancelled the function after receiving complaints that the rules were being violated in giving the permission, Mayor Rajesh Kalia later allowed Competent Foundation to hold the camp.

According to the guidelines of the community centres, the recommendation of area councillor is required for holding a blood donation camp free of cost, but in this case, the recommendation was made by another councillor, Gurpreet Dhillon, under whose ward the community centre does not fall.

MC officials today visited the community centre and cancelled the function. When it came to the notice of the organisers, they submitted a fresh application with recommendations of Mayor Rajesh Kalia.

The Mayor said he received a request for holding a blood donation camp and recommended as the cause was good .He said that as per the guidelines, Mayor and Commissioner could recommend for allowing such function at any community centre in the city.

When contacted, Sanjay Tandon said Competent Foundation organised such camps twice in a year. One was held on his birthday, while the other on Hanuman Jayanti. He said Gurpreet Dhillon tried to book the Community Centre at Sector 46, but it was already booked. He then recommended for the Community Centre at Sector 48 oblivious of the guidelines. The function was for social cause and not related to any political activity, he said .

Interestingly, the community centre falls in the area of Davesh Moudgil who is in the opposite camp of Tandon. It may be recalled that the Election Commission had already issued warning to Sanjay Tandon and six councillors of the BJP for holding political meetings at the community centres last month.

RWA files complaint 

JJ Singh, president of the Residents’ Welfare Association, Sector 48, has filed a complaint before the Election Commission to cancel the blood donation camp. He said the blood donation camp was a political function