Row as actor holds meeting with city Mayor, councillors at wife’s residence

Sandeep Rana

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 25

On his visit to the city, actor Anupam Kher today created a stir as he convened a meeting of all BJP councillors and the Mayor at the residence of his wife MP Kirron Kher in Sector 8 here. Kher took the meeting of the elected representatives without the knowledge of the city unit of the party and without the MP’s presence.

Eyebrows were raised over his move as councillors said he was no authority to call them to a meeting.

Councillors, preferring anonymity, told Chandigarh Tribune, “We received a call from the MP’s assistant and another from the BJP call centre saying that Anupam Kher will hold a meeting with all councillors at 6 pm. How can he call an official meeting? It was an official meeting as we had got a call from the party’s call centre.”

Many councillors were left wondering about the convener of the meeting and its subject.

“It is not right on his part. The MP, the Mayor or the party president can call such meetings, not him. How can a third person, without the knowledge of the party, hold such a meeting? It is odd,” lamented a party leader.

City BJP president Sanjay Tandon said, “The matter is not in my knowledge. Whether it is right or wrong, you can enquire about it from our organisational secretary.”

BJP organisational secretary Dinesh Kumar said the actor cannot hold a meeting like that.

MP Kirron Kher, however, said, “I was not there in the meeting. It was not any official meeting at all. He just wanted to meet them as he had also met them last time. It was only a small chit-chat session and nothing political or official. They had tea and shared experiences.”

Tandon, Moudgil trade barbs

City BJP president Sanjay Tandon and former Mayor Davesh Moudgil had a heated exchange at the Kamlam in Sector 33 here on Thursday. They argued over an old issue of permission for using community centre to hold a blood donation camp. Tandon said to Moudgil, “I called you up several times but you neither answer my calls nor called back.” On this, Moudgil gave an explanation on the matter, which did not go down well with Tandon and arguments ensued. Moudgil is a confidant of former MP Satya Pal Jain. Tandon and Jain do not see each other eye to eye.