According to Malhotra, it was all an exercise to let Charles Correa (the famous architect credited with the works in New Bombay and the state Assembly in Bhopal) commence his first assignment in the city, the 11-storey trade centre in Sector 17.

In a telephonic conversation with Newsline, Malhotra spoke from Delhi: "Correa was facing problems regarding the bye-laws and this conference was an attempt to have them amended so that Correa will have a smooth entry to Chandigarh for implementing his plans. Through out the sessions, there was constant harping on one thing: it is high time Corbusier's master plan is given a second look as it has become outdated."

Malhotra was involved with the planning of the convention, when the idea was mooted by Correa two years ago. "But the moment I raised my objections to the fact that 80 per cent of the invitees, mainly the speakers, belonged to one side, I was kept out of the society, the Chandigarh Prospectives, that organised the convention. And then I was put in the steering committee in charge of the exhibitions."

A senior official of the UT Administration dismissed the accusations, saying, "there is no need to amend the bye-laws because the trade centre is as per the master plan. Correa was quite keen to do something in this city of Corbusier."Malhotra and a few city architects pointed out that the Administration has invited no tenders for the centre. "That is true. Two years ago, when the Administration awarded the project to Correa, the main objective was to get this big name involved with a city project," noted the official. He added that Correa had offered to design the trade centre, free of cost.

However, some see a "hidden agenda" in the offer. Speaking on condition of anonymity, a young local architect scoffed, "the trade centre is just an opening for Correa." Malhotra believes that Correa's main objective includes an overall revamping of the masterplan, densification and an elaborate plan for the periphery. The whole thing was stage-managed by the Administration and even the speakers were all Correa's friends, hence the seminars were all tailor-made".

This charge too is disputed by the Administration official, who retorts, "can you have these eminent architects, who are renowned for their excellent work across the globe, tailor-made? There were Indian architects also who criticised Le Corbusier. Let us not be so paranoid. Our country is prone to conspiracies."

But Malhotra insists, "how can we celebrate `the idea' of Chandigarh? It is just an excuse. I have nothing personal against anyone but since I was associated with the city for 30 long years, I was pained to see the whole drama that was staged for three days. What do you want to do with Chandigarh? Make another Delhi? The convention should have been to learn the lessons in urban chaos from other cities ... not to repeat those chaotic conditions. Yes, there are mistakes in Chandigarh, but there is a method to rectify them. Chandigarhians should not allow destruction of their most beautiful city".