In a brazen move, five of them have moved resolutions in the city's civic body seeking assistance for a chosen few deprived citizens who are known to them.

However, Arvind Ghatpande, already famous for his Public Interest Litigations, has called their bluff with a public appeal that seeks to extend their acts of charity to other deprived citizens. He has asked for applications from all the needy Puneiites which he has promised to forward to the corporators.

The drama unfolded when corporators Shivaji Kshirsagar, Anil Shirole, Shyam Satpute, Vilas Wadekar and Sanjay Balgude, in their enthusiasm to wield their power for the betterment of their ``chosen'' ones, urged the Pune Municipal Corporation to provide shelter to a handful of unemployed and handicapped. As if to say, there are none other in Pune who deserve this kindness! And that's where Ghatpande has hitthe bull's eye through his public appeal.

Take the case of a letter written by Shivaji Kshirsagar and Anil Shirole dated August 27 forwarded to the standing committee for consideration on September 19. The resolution reads thus: ``Shri Rajendra Vinayak Pathak residing at 292 Somwar Peth, Pune and Khalil Sayyed Shaikh residing at 1, Yeravada, both have financial difficulties and there is no earning member in their family, therefore 4x5 square feet area should be made available to each of them for their livelihood near Poona Club, opposite Dastur School.''

Another resolution moved by Shivaji Kshirsagar and Shyam Satpute state that ``10x10 square feet area should be given to one crippled youth named Rajendra Shankar Edle on 11 months agreement for business purpose on Nagar Road.''

There's yet another resolution moved by Sanjay Balgude and Vilas Wadekar which proposes that: ``Srimati Chaya Jagdish Tatkar residing at 548 Shukrawar Peth, Shahapura, Pune-2 is a widow and is acquainted with us and she has nomeans to earn money. Therefore, she should be given 20x20 square feet area for business purpose on long lease and on nominal rental basis at the eastern side of Sri Kala Krida Manch, at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.''

That's not all. One more states that: ``Sri Sarang Dyaneshwar Gadiwan residing at 634 Ghorpade Peth, Pune-42 is acquainted with us and is an educated unemployed and he has no means to earn money. So 15x25 square feet area should be given on long term basis and on nominal rental basis in between Hotel Pancham and ST Mahamandal staff quarters, near the wall, on Pune-Satara Road.''

On the basis of these above resolutions which surely sees some of our city fathers as those with magnanimity and kindness, Ghatpande has generously appealed to the public to seize this golden opportunity for their personal benefits. Ghatpande has requested the public to send in their applications to him and he will personally forward them to the respective corporators.

He appeals in a sardonic note, ``On the basisof the resolutions moved by city fathers Shivaji Kshirsagar, Anil Shirole, Shyam Satpute, Vilas Wadekar and Sanjay Balgude in the standing committee meetings, I invite applications from widows in the city who have no earning members in their family; unemployed crippled youths of the city who have no means to earn money; and educated unemployed youths in the city who have no means to earn money.'' The only requirement is ``acquaintance with one of the above mentioned city fathers. Don't miss this opportunity. Hurry up. No charges for forwarding your applications. Address them to: Arvind Ghatpande, 82, Old Narayan Peth, Pune-411030.''

In a letter addressed to Ramesh Bodke, chairman, Standing Committee, Ghatpande shoots, ``The abovementioned resolutions speak volumes of the city fathers' corrupted and selfish mind. They come together not for the welfare of the city but for the personal welfare of each city father....You become the looters and start to loot the property of Pune by distributing the same amongyour relatives, friends and special acquaintance......The city fathers who moved such illegal and irrelevant resolutions have not furnished any documentary evidence to show that their clients have no means to earn money. Mere acquaintance with a city father is not a qualification.''

While Ghatpande has asked Bodke to withdraw these resolutions immediately, he is waiting for applications that will come his way!