Bengalee: no involvement

I have not been informed about the use of my name and signature on the WAPIZ (World Alliance of Parsi Irani Zarthosh­tis) letter canvassing Anahita Desai’s candidature for Bombay Parsi Punchayet trusteeship. My name and signature have been falsely used. In fact, I have strictly warned WAPIZ not to involve me in any matter concerning the community. (A letter to voters from WAPIZ dated May 19, 2011 endorsing Desai’s candidature carried Dr Mehroo Bengalee’s name at the end along with those of seven other WAPIZ trustees. — Editors).

DR MEHROO D. BENGALEE

The Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) trusteeship is intended for persons of professional eminence and illustrious reputation who can serve the community as trust custodians in an honorary capacity, with counsel and direction through expertise. But today it is being coveted by candidates only because trusteeship brings power and pelf to some of these individuals. Where for the former it is but a question of the best man winning, for the latter it translates into extreme anxiety to score a victory at all cost.

In the current fray, the unsavory controversy over WAPIZ (World Alliance of Parsi Irani Zarthoshtis) candidate Anahita Desai’s foul endeavor to boast a supporters’ list with bigwig names and their purported signatures without letter of support/consent of the said endorser, proves the above and is synonymous with forgery. Nothing can be more embarrassing for this election contender than a written public disclosure and censure from an aggrieved ex-vice chancellor of Bombay University and BPP trustee Dr Mehroo Bengalee whose name has been misused for willful misrepresentation.

The earlier exposure about obtaining signatures of Doongerwadi staff, and their subsequent clarification of not being voluntary informed signatories, shows it to be simple coercion by the same candidate’s camp.

Both these cited instances highlight the pitfalls of BPP elections under a misapplied universal adult franchise.

After these revelations of sneaky procurement of endorsements from unlettered Doongerwadi workers, and now with Bengalee’s open Press announcement and reproach of fraudulent use of her name and signature against her specific directions, the WAPIZ nominee has lost all credibility as an aspiring candidate for BPP trusteeship where voters seek trustworthiness in their choice of candidate.

MICKIE SORABJEE

nashmick@hotmail.com