The Governing Council meeting of NCUI, just before the AGM on last Wednesday turned out stormy with a member and the President coming to verbal duel.
One of the members of GC told Indian Cooperative on condition of anonymity that Ashok Dabas accused President Chandra Pal Singh of running NCUI’s affair as his pocket borough. An enraged Chandra Pal charged Dabas of indulging into cheap politics aimed at gaining popularity.
The matter pertained to increasing the retiring age of NCUI staff from 58 years to 60. Dabas wanted the Governing Council to take up the matter. It is said that he had raised the issue in last meeting prior to Cooperative Congress. But the matter was shoved aside on the promise of taking it up in the next meeting.
Ashok Dabas insisted on inclusion of the subject, to which the President objected. This led to verbal fight and generated lots of bad blood. The two accused each other and it was on the intervention of likes of Nafed Chairman Bijender Singh and others that the frayed nerves could be cooled.
Later Biscomaun Chairman Sunil Singh tried to play peace-maker and reminded Dabas of impending AGM where a patched-up atmosphere must prevail. “It is democracy and where would Dabasji fight-obviously not in IFFCO or Kribhco”, said Sunil to Indian Cooperative.
On the query as to what led to such a nasty situation, a diplomatic Biscomaun Chairman said” I am not aware as the breakfast ordered for GC members was very delicious and I was busy quelling my hunger”.
Other GC members told Indian Cooperative that matter had indeed become hot and a timely intervention by assembled members saved the situation. “But it is also hallmark of democracy and such scenes could be seen in both Indian and British Parliaments, quipped a a member.