MR GURBIR SINGH’S DOUBLE-SPEAK AND CAMOUFLAGE BARED

ISSUES

Members upset with the latest hike in liquor & food item rates at the club

NEW CLUB HOUSE AN ARCHITECTURAL BLUNDER!!! .

No fans, Only AC!!!

Centralised Air-conditioning System jacks up the club’s electricity bills.

"Hike in liquor charges by 15% has made the Club lose rather than gain revenue. More journalists find it easier on their pockets to entertain themselves at a 'Gokul' or a "Lalit” bars where the drinks are not only cheaper but come with a few free snacks as well. A huge guest fee for even those who do not drink has discouraged guest visitation and hit revenues"

Guess who took this stand. It is none other than current “Hon” Secretary Gurbir Singh, when he led an Opposition Progress Democratic Alliance (PDA) panel in the 2003-04 Press Club elections. In his desperate bid to return to power in the Press Club, Mr Gurbir Singh issued a two-page pamphlet headlined “Sleazy Watering Hole OR Prestigious Press Club" on June 24, 2003. While it is another matter the “Sleazy Watering Hole” campaign worked, his panel rode to power on this and some other planks during the 2003-04 elections and he became the Club Secretary, the somersaults he made subsequently make an interesting reading:

The same Secretary Mr Gurbir Singh, after being re-elected to the post during 2005-06, issued a notice to the effect what he called 'interim hike' in the bar rates.
Contesting the “interim hike” proposed by the Secretary, a member, CPJha sent Mr Gurbir Singh a protest e-mail, saying: "Even present liquor prices in the club are more than any ordinary bar/joint near it". He demanded that an SGM be convened to deliberate on the “interim” bar rates hike.

Mr Gurbir Singh, however, in his reply dated August 26, 2005 to CPJha, claimed that the Managing Committee’s proposal to hike the bar rates was discussed at length in the recent AGM and it was adopted 'unanimously'. He, however, said that "I don’t recall you opposing the hike, but we can check the AGM minutes".

"Also, I am sure you will agree that the Club or the facilities it offers cannot be compared to any 'ordinary' joint or pub nearby" Mr Gurbir Singh said, adding:” Having said that though, we would welcome a discussion on the financial issues involved and maybe the final committee recommendations can incorporate some of your suggestions"

The 'interim' hike in the bar rates continued till recently. However, the same Mr Gurbir Singh chose to effect one more hike in April 2008, without even bothering to take up the matter in the AGM this year. The manner in which Mr Gurbir Singh has gone about hiking the bar and canteen rates bespeaks of his utter disrespect for the General body of the Club.

This time around, members have taken the substantial hike in the bar and canteen rates with “a pound of salt” if not a proverbial “pinch of salt”. We, the members, are not aware of if a due procedure, like involving the bar and canteen sub-committee in fixing the new rates, was adopted and if it was the case then why the details have not been made known to the members. The secretary's notice claims the hike is just about 10 per cent.

However, a careful study of the old bar and new bar rates at the Press Club reveals that bar rates have gone up more than 10 per cent and, while the hike in the canteen rates ranges between 50 to 60 per cent and We have especially given below the tables of the old and bar rates, as also old and new canteen rates. The statistics shown therein are a revelation.


Price Hike in The Press Club, Mumbai
We are posting below a comparative chart of the old and new rates of food & bar items in the Press Club, Mumbai.

Food Menu

No   Item                 NewPrice     Old Price     Price Rise     Rise in %

        Tea                               6                 4                  2                  50.00
        Cofee                           7                 5                  2                  40.00

Veg. Starter
1      Chana/Sheng           10               6.5                 3.5              53.85
2     Boiled Chana            10                 7                    3                42.86
3     Batata Wada             12                9                     3                33.33
4     Bajia/Pakoda            12                9                     3                33.33
5     Samosa                       12                9                     3                33.33
6     Paneer Pakoda         20               15                   5                 33.33
7     Cheese Sandwich         15            12                    3               25.00
8     Sp.Mixture                    12             10                   2               20.00
9     Veg.Pettice/Bonda      12             10                   2               20.00
10    Veg.Cutlet                     12             10                   2               20.00
11    Ragda Pattice               12             10                   2               20.00
12    Fry Boiled Chana        12             10                   2               20.00
13    Papad Fry                        6              5                    1               20.00
14    Chinese Bhel                 20            17                   3                17.65
15    Cauliflower Fry            20            17                   3                17.65
16    Veg.Harabara Kabab 20            17                   3                17.65
17    Bread Butter                   7              6                    1                16.67
18    Finger Chips                 15             13                   2                15.38
19    Misal Pav                       15             13                   2                15.38
20    Toast Butter                   8              7                    1                14.29
21    Veg.Club Sandwich    18             16                   2                12.50
22    Masala Papad              10              9                    1                11.11
23    Chana in China           22            20                   2                10.00
24    Wada Sambar             12              11                    1                9.09


Sea Food
1    Surmai Fry/Curry        50               26                24              92.31
2    Pomfret Fry/Curry      50               32                 18              56.25
3    Bombay Duck               25               23                   2                8.70
4    Mandeli Fry                  25               23                   2                8.70

Chapati / Paratha
1    Chapati                             3                 2                    1             50.00
2    Bread Slice                      2                1.5                 0.5          33.33

Indian Dishes
1    Alu Palak                         15                10                   5             50.00
2    Dal Fry                            15                10                   5             50.00
3    Paneer Makhanwala    25               17                   8             47.06
4    Channa Masala             15                11                   4             36.36
5    Rajma Masala                15                11                  4              36.36
6    BhendiFry Masala        20               15                  5              33.33
7    Palak Paneer                  20               15                  5               33.33
8    Paneer Mutter               22               17                  5               29.41
9    Veg. Kolhapuri              18                14                 4               28.57
10   Chiken Boneless           40               32                  8              25.00
11   Mix Vegetable                16                13                  3              23.08
12   Chiken Masala              30               25                  5              20.00
13   Kheema Fry                   30                25                 5              20.00
14   Raitha                             12                 10                 2              20.00
15   Cauliflower Fry             20                17                 3               17.65
16   Veg.Makhanwala         20                17                 3               17.65
17   Chicken Moghlai          40                35                 5              14.29
18  Chi.Kolhapuri(Boneless) 45           42                  3               7.14
19   Chicken Haidrabadi    45               42                  3               7.14
20   Chicken Tangdi Fry     45               43                 2               4.65
21   Kheema Mutter             30               29                 1                3.45



Non Veg. Starter
1    Omlet Toast                     12                10                 2              20.00
2    Sp. Omlet                         18                15                 3              20.00
3    Egg Bhurjee                     15                13                 2               15.38
4    Egg Pakoda                      15                13                 2               15.38
5    Egg Roll                            16                14                 2               14.29
6    Chi.Sandwich/Toast     16                14                 2               14.29
7    Nargis Kabab                   18               16                 2               12.50
8    Boiled Egg                        10                 9                  1               11.11
9    Chiken GoldCoin            30               27                 3               11.11
10   Chiken Lollypop             34               31                 3                9.68
11   Kheema Egg Roll            25               23                2                8.70
12   chiken Lollypop Gravy 40               37                 3                8.11
13   Fry Boiled Egg                20               19                 1                5.26
14   Chiken Crispy                 40               38                2                5.26
15   Chiken Crunchy              40               38                2                5.26

Rice Preparations

1    Veg.Haidrabadi Biryani    35           3                   5               16.67
2    Veg.Biryani                          30           26                4               15.38
3    Kheema Pulav                     38           33                 5               15.15
4    Chiken Birayani                 40           35                 5               14.29
5    Chi.Bonless Birayani         45           40                 5               12.50
6    Chi.Haidrabadi Biryani   45           40                 5               12.50
7    Veg Pulav                             28           25                 3               12.00
8    Peas Pulav                           28           25                 3               12.00
9    Jeera Rice                            28           25                 3               12.00
10   Dal Fry Rice Mix               25           23                 2                 8.70
11   Methi Khichdi                    30           28                 2                 7.14
12   Palak kichdi                       30           28                 2                 7.14

Chinese Food
1    Veg.Hakka Noodle            30             26                 4               15.38
2    Chiken Fried Rice             38             33                  5               15.15
3    Chiken Schezwan Rice    38             33                  5               15.15
4    Chiken Haka Noodle        38             33                  5               15.15
5    Veg. American Chopsey   40            35                  5               14.29
6    Chic.Manchurian/Chily  35             31                  4               12.90
7    Veg.Stew Rice                    45             40                  5               12.50
8    Chi.American Chopsey    45             40                  5               12.50
9    Veg.Combination Rice     45             40                  5               12.50
10   Fish Roasted Chily            45            40                  5               12.50
11   Veg.Fried Rice                    28             25                  3               12.00
12   Chi.Schezwan Noodle      40             36                  4               11.11
13   Veg.Schezwan Noodle      32             29                  3               10.34
14   Veg Thai Rice                     32             29                  3               10.34
15   Egg Fried Rice                    32              29                  3               10.34
16   Chiken Stew Rice              60              55                  5               9.09
17   Chi.Combination Rice     60              55                  5               9.09
18   Veg.Manchurian/Chily    25              23                  2               8.70
19   Veg.Triple Rice                  50              46                  4               8.70
20   Veg.Shezwan Rice            30              28                  2               7.14
21   Chiken Triple Rice            60              56                  4               7.14

Tandoori Items
1    Paneer Tikka                       40              35                  5               14.29
2    Chiken Tikka                      60              55                  5                9.09
3    Tangdi Kabab                    45              43                  2                4.65

Soups
1    Chiken Noodle Soup         28              25                  3                12.00
2    Veg.Manchow Soup         23              21                  2                 9.52
3    Veg.Sweetcorn Soup        23              21                  2                 9.52
4    Veg.Hot & Sour Soup       23              21                  2                 9.52
5    Tomato Soup                      23              21                  2                 9.52
6    Veg. Noodle Soup              25              23                  2                 8.70
7    Chiken Manchao Soup     25              23                  2                 8.70
8    Chiken SweetCorn Soup   25              23                  2                 8.70
9    Chiken Hot & Sour Soup  25              23                  2                 8.70




No    Bar Menu                       New Price     Old Price     Price Rise Rise in %

Whisky-Scotch
1   Jose Cuervo Tequila Peg         220                 198               22             11.11
2   Jonny Walker Red Label        170                  154               16             10.39
3   Sierra Tequila Scotch Peg      200                  182               18             9.89
4   Cutty Sark Scotch Peg             200                  184               16             8.70
5   Camino Real Tequila Peg        180                  168               12             7.14
6   Chivas Regal Whisky Peg        320                  300              20             6.67
7   Jonny Walker Black LBL         320                  300              20             6.67

Whisky- Premium
1   Antiquity Blue Whisky Peg        80                  72              8              11.11
2   Teachers Whisky Peg                140                126            14              11.11
3   RC Whisky Peg                             64                  58              6              10.34
4   100 Piper Whisky Peg               130                 118             12             10.17
5   Blenders Pride Whisky Peg       66                  60              6              10.00
6   Signature Whisky Peg                66                  60              6              10.00
7   Black & White Whisky Peg       136                124            12               9.68
8   Antiquity Whisky Peg                  70                  64             6                9.38
9   Peter Scott Whisky Peg               70                  64             6                9.38
10  Single Malt Whisky Peg             70                  64             6                9.38
11  VAT 69 Whisky Peg                     84

Whisky- Regular
1   Royal Stag Whisky Peg                42                  36             6                 16.67
2   DSP Black Whisky Peg                38                  34             4                 11.76
3   Bagpiper Whisky peg                   26                  24             2                 8.33
4   Director's Special Whisky Peg   26                  24             2                 8.33
5   Green Label Whisky Peg              26                  24             2                 8.33

Rum
1   Bacardi Dark Rum Peg                 62                 56             6                 10.71
2   Bacardi White Rum Peg              62                 56             6                 10.71
3   Mc Dowell's Dark Rum Peg        26                 24             2                  8.33
4   Mc Dowell's White Rum Peg      26                 24             2                  8.33
5   Old Monk Rum Peg                       26                 24             2                  8.33

Beer
1   Fosters Beer 650 ML                      78                 70             8                 11.43
2   Fosters Beer 330 ML                      50                 45             5                 11.11
3   Kingfisher Beer 650 ML                76                 69             7                10.14
4   K.F.Strong Beer 650 ML               66                60             6                10.00
5   R.C Beer 500 ML                            44                 40             4                10.00
6   Kingfisher Beer 330 ML               40                  37             3                  8.11
7   Kingfisher Can Beer 330 ML       40                  37             3                  8.11


Wine
1   Chantilli Wine 1 Glass                     130               95             35            36.84
2   Jacobs Creek Dark Wine NIP      260            204             56           27.45
3   Jacobs Creek White Wine NIP    260            204             56            27.45
4   Fiquera(w) Wine Peg                        12                10              2            20.00
5   Port Wine NO.7 Peg                           12                10              2            20.00
6   Port Wine NO.7 Glass                      28                25              3            12.00
7   Grover(R) Wine Glass                     127               115            12            10.43
8   Grover (W) Wine Glass                  127               115            12            10.43
9   Fiquera (R) Wine 375 ML              86                 78              8            10.26
10  Fiquera (R) Wine 750 ML            172               156             16           10.26
11  Fiquera (w) Wine 375 ML              86                 78              8            10.26
12  Fiquera (w) Wine 750 ML            172               156             16           10.26
13  Fiquera (R) Wine Glass                   33                 30              3            10.00
14  Fiquera (w) Wine Glass                  33                 30              3            10.00
15  Grover (R) Wine Half Bottle       286              260             26            10.00
16  Grover (R) Wine Peg                        44                40              4            10.00
17  Grover (W) Wine Half Bottle       286             260             26           10.00
18  Grover (W) Wine Peg                       44                40              4           10.00
19  Jacobs Creek (R) Wine Peg          187             170               17        10.00
20  Jacobs Creek (W) Wine Peg        187             170               17        10.00
21  Jacobs Creek (R) Wine Glass       187             170               17        10.00
22  Jacobs Creek (W) Wine Glass     187             170               17        10.00
23  Port Wine NO.7 750 ML                88               80                8        10.00

GIN
1   Gilbeys Gin Peg                                  30               26                4            15.38
2   Forbes Gin Peg                                  24               22                2              9.09


Brandy
1   Golconda Brandy Peg                      24               22                2              9.09


Vodka
1   Fuel Vodka Peg                                  40               36                4              11.11
2   Smirnof Vodka peg                          62               56                6              10.71
3   Absolute Vodka Peg                        160             148              12                8.11
4   Alcazar Vodka Peg                            30               28                2                7.14
5   Romanov Vodka Peg                        30               28                2                7.14
6   White Mischief Vodka Peg             30               28                2                7.14


Breezer
1   Bacardi Breezer 275ML                   56               51                5                9.80

Cocktails & Mocktails
1   Caipiroschka                                      90               70              20           28.57
2   Tropical Cooler                                 25               20                5           25.00
3   Fresh Fruit Smoothies                     35               30                5           16.67
4   Virgin Mary                                       40               35                 5             14.29
5   Bloody Mary                                      90               80               10           12.50
6   Mojito                                                 90               80               10             12.50
7   Lemon Iced Tea                                20               20                0           0.00

Soft Drink
1   Soda 330 ML                                      12                9                 3                33.33
2   Lime Cordial Peg                              10                8                 2                25.00
3   Honey 1 Spoon                                    6                5                  1                20.00
4   Cold Drink 300 ML                          14              12                 2                16.67
5   Diet Pepsi 330 ML                            30              27                3                11.11
6   Diet Coke 330 ML                             36              33                3                 9.09
7   Tonic Water Schwepps 300ML    40              37              3                 8.11


Note

* The rates in Blue colour shows the price hike more than 12%
# The rates in Red colour shows the price hike more than 25%



“After the recent hike, effected nearly a month after the inauguration of the new building of the Club on March 28, 2008, the average bar and food bills of the members have gone up by as much as 50 to 60 per cent. And this is not because that the members have increased their level of liquor intake or consumption of food items at the club. The consumption of these items by the members is more or less the same,” Sai Prasan, who had contested for the post of the Club's treasurer in 2006-08 elections, said after studying his and some other's bill for the last two months.
According to him, the 'outgoing' Managing Committee of the Club - led by its “Hon” Secretary Mr Gurbir Singh has jacked up the prices of both the food and bar items by 12 per cent to 95 per cent. The hike is more steep in food items than in the bar menu.

Sai Prasan is quite right as we, in our own study, found that the hike of a simple item like Shing is more than 50 per cent, while in the case of Surmai fish the hike is almost 100 per cent.

The new rates for the bar and food came into effect since April 29, 2008 when the inflation rate was below 8 per cent. The general impression among the members regularly visiting is that the MC has left no stone unturned to turn the club into a starred Hotel, where only elite sections of the society can afford to spend.
“There is no difference in the price list of a big bar & Hotel and the Press Club, now nicknamed the Club House", a member working for a language newspaper lamented, adding that now only those few members who earned fat salary in pink newspapers could afford to come to their club.

The other facts also falsify the secretary's reason to effect the price hike. The MC's annual report clearly says that as compared with the financial year 2006-07, expenses on the staff salary etc has remained more or less the same in the year 2007-08 and water and other charges are also the same. The members used the new club building just for four days in the last financial year and therefore they have reasons to know the actual reason for increase in the power charges.
Proper accounting norms say that the expenses on consumption of power in construction work of the new building has to be showed under separate heads.
And if the power charges have gone up in the club during the last two months because of air conditioning, then who is responsible for it? Is it not an architectural blunder that no provision has been made for ordinary fans in the area covered by Centralised Cooling System (CCS), which would have come in handy in turning off the CCS when it is not required?

Not only the Bar room, the Media Room and Lounge and Reception Counter area, but even the staircase and toilet are centrally air conditioned!! What is the total sitting capacity in the entire Centralised AC covered area and what was the sitting capacity in the same area in the old building? We can say with all the facts at our command that the sitting capacity in the said area has in fact gone down substantially.

If Mr Gurbir Singh does not agree with us, then let him provide the figures. We can only add to what we have said. Even the numbers of urinals and toilets have gone down.

Impropriety in Peparation of Voters List Exposed

In continuation of our post ' Voters List' on July 2008 , we are reproducing today copy of a complaint filed by a member regarding inclusion of non-boafide members in the voters list.

The complaint , filed on July 12 , 2008 , had urged the president to take immediate suitable steps before the start of nomination process on Monday , July 14, 2008.

We have come to know that in order to hide its failure to prepare a genuine voters list before the election notification , the 'outgoing' Managing Committee is giving final touches to a 'rectified' voters list that may bring down the total number of voters by about one hundred.
We shall come out with our opinion and possible actions after this 'rectified' voters list is given to us. We have , however, proved that there is a definite case of serious legal impropriety involved in holding the elections.


July 12, 2008

Mr Pradeep Vijaykar
The President,
The Press Club,
Mumbai

Sub: Final voters’ lists for 2008 Press Club polls

Dear Mr Vijaykar,

I would like to inform you that I obtained a copy of the final voters list for the Club’s 2008 polls, scheduled for July 26,2008, from the Club administration a couple of days back after paying the requisite fee of Rs 25. Having gone through the final voters’ list for the club’s 2008 polls, I have a very strong reason to believe that a large number of ineligible members have made it into the final voters’ list.

You will agree, we can not expect to have free and fair Press Club polls, with so many ineligible voters on the final electoral rolls.

Under the circumstances, I would request you to clarify the following:

1) Do all the voters listed in the final voters’ list fulfill the criterion stipulated under Article 5* of the Club’s by-laws?

(*Article 5 of the by-laws of the Press Club makes it abundantly clear that ordinary members shall have voting rights only one year after having been a part of the press club).

2) Have the names of all such members, who are no longer in the journalistic profession and are ineligible to continue as ordinary members of the club, been weeded out from the final electoral rolls?

3) Has the Club’s membership review committee, headed by Mr Sunil Shivdasani, gone through and cleared the final voters’ list before it was put up on the notice board?

4) I would like to know as to how the name of one particular member (membership No 721) who was reportedly suspended by the Managing Committee (MC) itself till October 2008, figures in the final list of voters?

Without going into the merit of the suspension of the said member, I would like to stress in this context that the outgoing MC has been rather casual in preparing the “final” voters’ list?

You will recall that I had in the first week of May, 2008, personally handed over to you a copy of my letter addressed to the Club manager about the constitutional impropriety in preparing and displaying the draft voters’ list by the outgoing MC.

Considering that the notification for the Press Club elections has already been issued, I look forward to receiving clarifications to my above specific queries from your end before the start of the start of the poll process on July 14, 2008?

Simultaneously, I request you to exercise your powers as the president of the club to give necessary directions to Mr Jatin Desai, the Poll Returning Officer appointed by the ‘outgoing’ MC, to take all necessary steps to weed out all the ineligible members from the final list of voters.

At the same time, I also request you to ensure that the “outgoing” MC adheres to the poll code of conduct. I am making this request in the light of the fact that “outgoing” Secretary Gurbir Singh has not stopped from making policy announcements even after the notification of the poll schedule.

Thanking you and looking forward to a swift response from your end.


Yours truly,

CPJha
Membership No

Cc: Mr Jatin Desai
Returning Officer (2008 –Press Club polls)
The Press Club,
Mumbai