False information

The WAPIZ (World Alliance of Parsi Irani Zarthoshtis) Page in The Free Press Journal of January 7, 2011 has given false information about the so-called victory of WAPIZ in the matter of allotment of 104 flats by the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP). Accompanying the report are photographs of six BPP trustees as well as those of Kersi Randeria, Zeree Jehangirji and Percy Patel of the Alert Zoroastrians Association (AZA). The latter have been ridiculed as the principal culprits and self-serving persons.

Let us dissect the issue and find out how honest, unscrupulously fair and transparent the trustees are in making these claims.

A report on the front page of Jam-e-Jamshed Weekly of January 9, 2011 reads: "The BPP’s position on the 40 cases (rejected by the BPP) was accepted by the learned judge.” Actually the judge stated: "The respondents have made representations for about 30 applicants...” and not 40 as wrongly mentioned by WAPIZ. The judge further said, "I may also say that most of them were and are eligible to be included in the merit rating scheme.”

Out of 104 applicants, two have migrated, two do not want a BPP flat and six others were allotted flats by other charitable trusts through the good offices of Randeria. Why did the BPP or WAPIZ not state these facts when they were aware of them? The reason is that they do not want Randeria to come into the limelight or get any credit. WAPIZ are really bad losers and want to appear winners by hook or by crook.

As a respondent, I had drawn the attention of the judge to the manipulation of points and ranking in the merit list during my submission on behalf of an applicant for whom the BPP had deducted 30 points out of 75 on the flimsy excuse that his son had also applied for a flat. They suppressed the fact that his application, made 29 years earlier, had been pulled down from second rank to 207. Is this not manipulation? This is the last leg of the applicant’s life. Living below the poverty line, he would never be able to get a flat from the BPP during his lifetime. The applicant had filed for the removal of the BPP trustees under section 141(D) before the Charity Commissioner (CC). And WAPIZ claims they are fair, not just to the poor applicants!

The BPP, in its wisdom had sent 10 to 15 applicants to the CC to lift the stay order, preventing the trustees from alienation of trust property by pleading that they have no roof over their heads. This resulted in the CC suo moto hearing all housing matters. This information was also not mentioned by WAPIZ/BPP. When the CC asked for a complete list of vacant flats the BPP came out with a list of 93 flats which was also incomplete as vacant flats in premium baugs were not mentioned at all. Is this transparency?

Of the 94 applicants, the judge has allotted 64 flats whereas six have been provided by other charitable trusts, making the number 70. This means that AZA succeeded in securing 79 percent of the flats, whereas WAPIZ/BPP got a mere 21 percent — and they still brag that they are the winners!

WAPIZ with their self-appointed scholars and defenders of the faith should try and speak the truth, learn to accept the truth and try to follow the path of truth. Facing the truth requires a great deal of courage and strong determination, which they lack. Speaking the truth may cause WAPIZ a temporary setback, but it has one very positive aspect. It puts God on one’s side, never mind if the whole world is against one.

PHIROZ BALSARA