The 44th AGM of apex labour co-op federation NLCF turned stormy with members after members expressing anger over one of the Directors V V P Nair filing a police complaint over an alleged misappropriation of funds.
The atmosphere turned toxic soon after the beginning of the proceedings. The Managing Director put the agenda which was passed by the members and then began an acidic round of allegation and counter allegation. Majority of members were up on their feet demanding expulsion of Nair and his society from its membership to the apex body NLCF.
“Bowing to the overwhelming response of members, the NLCF’s General Body passes the resolution of expelling Nair’s society”, said Ashok Dabas concluding the debate and trying to end the mayhem being witnessed at the top floor of Federation’s Sarita Vihar office in Delhi on Monday.
Nair, a Bijender Singh protégé was mauled when it came to the turf of Sanjiv Kushalkar. Majority of members of NLCF owe allegiance to him and they were agitated over the issue of Police complaint. Jagjit Sagwan’s bid to allow Nair to complete his speech fell to deaf ears.
In his complaint Nair had accused Sanjeev Kushalkar, Amit Bajaj and MD Smt Pratibha Ahuja of misappropriation of funds of member societies, federations, government shares, NCDC shares, loans etc. “The amount misappropriated is Rs one crore”, reads the Complaint.
Everybody from the MD to the acting Chairman Amit Bajaj tried to explain the expenses born by the Federation. The MD said I joined in 1981 and have served the organization for 38 years. The accounts of Federation are open for anybody to scrutinize and if even a pai is proved to be misused by me, I would quit in no time.
Trying to explain, Amit Bajaj said the then Chairman Sanjeev Kushalkar made VVP Nair the investigator when Nair
For two years Nair did nothing about the investigation and now out of malice and cheap politics he is spreading muck, said Bajaj assuring that he is ready to take action even now if a piece of evidence is provided.
“Misappropriation of Rs one crore since 1981; does it not sound like a joke especially when one knows salaries were paid, office complex was maintained, etc”, said Bajaj later on the phone.
Ashok Dabas clarified that none of the Directors ever took TA/DA from the NLCF and the only person who did so was VVP Nair. He also took money in the name of getting a contract and not a pai was ever brought by him, he added.
The leaders also felt that continuous bickering coupled with FIR brought a bad name to the organization. It leads to primary societies getting difficulties in fetching contracts and business, they asserted. Dabas even feared a government grant drying up should such a situation be allowed to continue.
Majority of leaders, Indian Cooperative talked to felt that in order to become Chairman, Nair is ready to go to any extent-even destroying the organization built by much sweat and struggle.
Later, after the AGM was over, Nair was seen getting signatures of delegates to prove the point that his expulsion has not been done with two-third majority. I will go to the court of Central Registrar, he said.
