The State Government's decision to transfer Bhatia from the post of municipal commissioner evoked sharp reaction here. Cutting across all barriers, Puneites expressed their solidarity with Bhatia, who was at the helm of affairs only for seven days.

More than 100 non-political organisations, representing slum dwellers and also the highly educated and wealthy class, came on to the streets in protest against the Government's sudden decision.

The reaction among the citizens was so severe that not a single political party, including the ruling BJP-Shiv Sena and Suresh Kalmadi's Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi, could dare to publicly defend Bhatia's transfer. In fact, the Congress, which had transferred Bhatia more than 20 times during the lastthree decades, fully supported the movement keeping an eye on the Assembly elections.

What inspired the people to stand behind Bhatia when he was holding the post of municipal commissioner hardly for seven days? During his brief period, Bhatia restored the faith of the people in the civic administration by launching a special drive against illegal constructions and tax evaders. The people came on the streets for Bhatia because he had emerged as the symbol of clean public life.

Significantly, not a single corporator had the courage to intervene in the action initiated by Bhatia. They obviously knew that their intervention would boomerang and invite public wrath. Puneites responded to Bhatia like never before. It was not personal. It was social and for a cause.