Dissent in the BPP
The
fragile peace that generally characterized the functioning of the Bombay Parsi
Punchayet (BPP) since the trusteeship election two-and-a-half years ago appears
to be shattered. Three trustees, Anahita Desai, Hoshi Jal and Dr Adil Malia are
said to have written a long letter to the BPP chairman Viraf Mehta and three of
their co-trustees, Armaity Tirandaz, Xerxes Dastur and Maharukh Noble
expressing their dissent and disapproval of the chairman’s style of functioning.
The reasons cited by them allegedly include adhocism, unilateral decision-making,
involvement of the chairman’s
family in the handling of BPP trust matters, an alleged physical assault at
Khareghat Colony where Viraf’s father, Dinshaw, is said to have hit Ervad Cyrus
Dastoor, an office bearer of a rival association, resolving and settling of issues
concerning the chairman’s friends and family in their favor and systematically
victimizing others who challenge the chairman and his family. There was a heated
argument in the BPP boardroom last Tuesday (January 28) and reportedly the
three signatories are said to have walked out of the trustees’ meeting. Parsiana has not seen the three
trustees’ letter which is being kept confidential.
Parsiana has
sought clarification from both Viraf and Dinshaw Mehta to the allegations made
in the letter as well as from Dastoor and awaits their response.
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