Mohansingh Rajpal is apparently peeved with the state government for its failure to give its nod so far to the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) to celebrate the Shaniwarwada Festival.
The Pune mayor, Mohansingh Rajpal, on Friday boycotted the inauguration of the Pune Festival.
He is apparently peeved with the state government for its failure to give its nod so far to the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) to celebrate the Shaniwarwada Festival.
Rajpal told reporters he is worried as the state government’s green signal for the Shaniwarwada Festival is yet to come. “If the state government takes a positive stand about the Shaniwarwada Festival, then I would attend other events of the Pune Festival,” he said.
The Pune Festival, an annual feature, is the brainchild of the city Congress MP, Suresh Kalmadi, who is currently behind bars following his alleged involvement in the Commonwealth Games scam.
Rajpal said he did not attend the inauguration of the Pune festival as he “did not feel like attending it”.
DNA had come out with an exclusive report in its August 21 edition (‘Shaniwarwada fest awaits state govt nod’) highlighting that the fate of the Shaniwarwada Festival hangs in balance as the PMC has sought the permission of the state government and the civic administration has taken the stand not to celebrate the festival without prior permission of the state government.
There has been growing criticism by civic activists of the splurging of tax payers’ money by the civic body on organising or sponsoring
cultural events.
The budget provision for the Shaniwarwada Festival, to be organised before the historic fort, as well as at four other locations in the city, is Rs50 lakh.
Civic activist Vijay Kumbhar had sent a notice to municipal commissioner Mahesh Pathak to follow the state government directive on expenditure by the civic body on cultural events.
As the proposed expenditure crosses the limit of Rs3 lakh set by the state government, the PMC had sent a letter to the urban development department seeking its permission. The state government had not given permission for the festival till Friday.
The municipal secretary, Sunil Parakhi, left for Mumbai on Friday to get permission for the festival from the urban development department.
Rajpal said the revised estimate for the festival was Rs70 lakh and it was for the first time that such permission was being sought from the state government.
“NGOs should not oppose expenditure on festivals. The cultural festivals of PMC are a treat for the middle class who cannot otherwise enjoy such cultural events,” he said.
Without mentioning Kalmadi, Rajpal said the event is being held under different circumstances. On such an occasion, public sentiment has to be honoured.
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