To, The Editor, Mid Day

Firstly let me thank you for your carrying my response, though I must say I had thought you would do so on the front page, as requested.

I have also read, with interest, Mr.Prakash Gosavi’s “standing by his story” piece, carried alongside and have to bring the following to your attention:

Firstly, as no injustice was done to Mr Shroff’s daughter, as she was found eligible, there was absolutely no need to make such a huge front page story out of a non-issue;

The whole focus of the story is to refer to extraneous factors,  such as Mr Shroff’s suspension, to somehow suggest a “vindictive” action by the Committee without any basis or fact;

The internal communication by the Additional Secretary to ONLY the Committee members was conveniently leaked to your correspondent, who after establishing that it was in the routine course of the Club’s affairs, ought to have dismissed it, rather than stoking a huge controversy, as the article has needlessly done;

You will appreciate such an inaccurate screaming headline has already caused all the damage. Neither the contents of the lengthy article, nor subsequent rejoinders can allay the intent of the article- to somehow suggest that Shroff’s daughter’s membership issue hinted at a prejudicial action by the Club;

I must point out that Mr Prakash Gosavi is paid a fee by the RWITC under two heads a) for conducting private handicapping classes on our premises and b) for writing a weekly column for our web site www.rwitc.com. Hence he has a fidicuciary responsibility to the institution, rather than indulge in gamesmanship of this kind;

Further, the RWITC has enjoyed an excellent rapport and relationship with Mid Day, as our media partners, by an annual advertising contract (the only one we have with any newspaper) as also hosting the very popular Mid Day Trophy, for several years now. Hence, it behoved a more responsible story from the paper, especially from a correspondent, who virtually represents the RWITC at public forums;

The correspondent has very incorrectly stated that a 6-3 vote is as “overwhelming” as an 8-1. I beg to differ. Casting three negative votes for an applicant, disqualifies he/she from membership and is indicative of an intended move by a concert of members to debar a candidate. Just one stray negative vote represents an individual and not a “team” action, clearly establishing there was no motive to disqualify Mr Shroff’s daughter.

Mr Gosavi is wrong again on the “blackballing”, If, as a matter of hypothesis, a candidate got three negatives, such  action not only disqualifies a re application in the ordinary course, but virtually debars the candidate from applying even to other Clubs. One negative vote does neither and in the circumstances is entirely academic. Even if, for the sake of argument, a candidate gets three negatives, he/she is only found ineligible, is not voted upon, and is asked to withdraw the application, to prevent any disabilities at any other Club.

Several Clubs blackball candidates, and even the famous Willingdon Club is known to routinely disallow even eminent citizens. Do these stories get carried on front pages of newspapers?

Mr Gosavi, obviously motivatedly informed by those who wished to leak this information, has rather pompously concluded by stating that Ms.Shroff has not yet been made a Club member. The procedure at the RWITC has been, that once an applicant is “found eligible”, he/she is automatically voted upon favourably, and this step is a mere formality. Once again, he has blatantly tried to mislead your readers by making an observation on a mere technicality.

It is obvious, even to a layman, that there is a motivated method in this madness , and it is indeed sad that your esteemed journal has fallen prey to it, by dramatically creating a huge smoke, when there was no fire in the first place.

I have perforce to write this long piece to you, as both Chairman of the RWITC, and the head of our Media and Marketing Group, as it is our bounden duty to protect the integrity and stature of the sport and our Club, which articles such as this, destroy at one stroke. I have been advised by some to just ignore the article, as these are the ways of the media, to sensationalise and create stories, but as a responsible head of our Club, we cannot allow irresponsible journalism to be simply just wished away.