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High drama as rival groups spar during cycle body’s annual meet in Ludhiana
In the scuffle that ensued, the turban of the UCPMA president, DS Chawla, was allegedly tossed. Heavy police force, led by assistant commissioner of police Randhir Singh, was deployed at the spot after the incident.
High drama was witnessed during the annual general meeting of the United Cycle and Parts Manufacturers Association (UCPMA) on Wednesday as two rival groups got into a heated argument over the restriction on entry of members into office premises. In the scuffle that ensued, the turban of the UCPMA president, DS Chawla, was allegedly tossed.
Heavy police force, led by assistant commissioner of police Randhir Singh, was deployed at the spot after the incident. The meeting had been called to approve the balance sheet and change the auditor of the association, ahead of the elections scheduled for September 3.
The current executive body is divided into two groups. While current president DS Chawla and secretary Harsimerjit Singh Lucky comprise one group, the other group consists of six executive members, including general secretary Manjinder Sachdeva, senior vice-president Gurcharan Singh Gemco, vice-president Satnam Singh Makkar, joint secretary Walaity Ram Durga; press secretary Rajinder Singh Sarhali and finance secretary Achhru Ram Gupta. Former presidents of the association, including Charanjit Vishwakarma, Inderjit Navyug, and senior members, including Gurmeet Kular, have also formed a United Alliance group in support of Sachdeva group.
Soon after the meeting commenced at 6:30pm, president DS Chawla and the group led by general secretary Manjinder Sachdeva got into a heated argument over the restriction imposed on the entry of more than 150 members during the meeting, citing Covid guidelines. There are over 2,000 members in the association.
With over 100 members forced to stand outside the office, the Sachdeva group alleged that Chawla had approached the administration to restrict the entry. After Sachdeva group approached the police to allow entry of members, heated scenes were witnessed between the two groups, which resulted in a scuffle, during which Chawla’s turban was allegedly tossed. Videos also went viral on social media wherein members can be seen raising slogans, pushing and manhandling Chawla.
Chawla then moved out of the meeting and the proceedings were initiated in his absence. Chawla alleged that he was manhandled and his turban was tossed by the members led by Kular, Vishwakarma and others. The Sachdeva group, however, said his turban fell off after Chawla fell on the floor during the hustle. Sachdeva said that the balance sheet of the association has been approved and the agenda to change the auditor has been approved. ACP Randhir Singh said that police is lodging FIR in the matter. Video recording of the meeting has also been taken into custody.
