Ironic Role Reversal

The SPCA is up in arms against Maneka because of her foisting Colonel A.K. Bansal as chief superintendent of the society. While the appointment is legal according to Patel Nagar Sub-divisional Magistrate and SPCA Secretary K.S. Meena, the employees feel Maneka has gone against established SPCA procedure by doing so. The 66 SPCA staffers have said in the com -plaint that, in order to subdue dissent, Maneka resorted to a show of strength by bringing five carloads of men "carrying deadly weapons" to their office and "abusing and threatening them". Meena denied any knowledge of the incident.

While Bansal is working in an honorary capacity, the employees allege that Maneka's interest in appointing him is to establish a stranglehold over the SPCA. The SPCA itself, dating back to British days, is currently run on a Government grant of Rs 48 lakh and Maneka has been at constant loggerheads with the staff ever since she started managing its affairs.