.gif)
Since the 7th September, 2011 the updates have been very irregular as I have been shunting between Mahim (where I stay) and Mira Road (40 Kms away) where my mother is in the hospital in a critical condition, there is a chance that we may lose her any time now, and if that happens I may not be able to update you, at least for the next three to four days.
Yesterday i.e. 19th September saw the start of a PR exercise by your Association and we addressed a press conference at the Press Club of Mumbai.
I was pleasantly surprised at the huge turnout of the panelists and I estimate that there were almost 1000 panelists outside the Press Club. This also created problems of its own, the area around the Press Club is a sensitive area and we did not want to create a law and order situation so I requested the panelists to disburse from there and to assemble outside the EOW. The panelists most graciously agreed to disburse peacefully.
The Press release issued to the press is attached herewith.
The Press conference video is uploaded on our website aispa.co.in
I think we were successful in putting before the media the view point of the panelists and our concerns arising out of the harassment being meted out to some panelist’s viz. Mr. Dipankar Sarkar, Mr. Vikas Chandodkar and Mr. Ramesh Bachau.
The Association and indeed the entire family of Speakasians are aghast at this change in the stand of the EOW. From being the victims who were being protected we are now victims who are being victimized. Our protectors on whom we had utmost faith have now turned into tormentors.
This current action by the Mumbai Police has left us threatened. We are now scared that this victimization of the victims will percolate into arrest of many more of us.
As you have seen the conference video by now or soon will, you will realize that the media was receptive to our submissions and we hope that they will publish our viewpoint before the readers and viewers.
After the conference we shifted to the EOW and proceeded to submit our memorandum to the Joint commissioner of Police (Crime) Mr. Rajvardhanji. The Commissioner met us for a brief moment as he had to go for a meeting he could not give us a long hearing. We submitted the Memorandum to his office under acknowledgment.
As you must have heard from the various videos uploaded our pleas are quite simple and I list them down as follows:
1. Allow the company, to make payments due to the panelists. The Company is on record and has been repeatedly pleading before RBI and other agencies to be allowed to pay the panelists.
2. Complete the investigation in a set time frame.
3. Pending such investigation the company should be allowed to restart operations thereby ensuring continuous earnings to all panelists.
4. The Mumbai Police more specifically the EOW stops the arrest of the panelists. The panelists have no role in the running of the company or its management.
What amuses me no end is that the basic principal of natural justice is that everybody is to be treated as innocent until proved guilty?
In the case of SAOL the media and all the authorities have already pronounced SAOL to be guilty without even the first charge sheet having been filed. This is CONTEMPT of the highest order. "It seems like a denial of natural justice."
The value of achievement lies in the achieving…. Albert Einstein
Nowadays people know the price of everything and the value of nothing…. Oscar Wilde
Once again I wish to urge all Speakasians please have patience, stand solidly together behind the company, and trust your own judgment. Remember Tarak sahib’s words outside Thane Court “We are bound to win and we will definitely win”
Press Release Attachment
Memo To EOW Attachment
Proud to be a SpeakasianYesterday i.e. 19th September saw the start of a PR exercise by your Association and we addressed a press conference at the Press Club of Mumbai.
I was pleasantly surprised at the huge turnout of the panelists and I estimate that there were almost 1000 panelists outside the Press Club. This also created problems of its own, the area around the Press Club is a sensitive area and we did not want to create a law and order situation so I requested the panelists to disburse from there and to assemble outside the EOW. The panelists most graciously agreed to disburse peacefully.
The Press release issued to the press is attached herewith.
The Press conference video is uploaded on our website aispa.co.in
I think we were successful in putting before the media the view point of the panelists and our concerns arising out of the harassment being meted out to some panelist’s viz. Mr. Dipankar Sarkar, Mr. Vikas Chandodkar and Mr. Ramesh Bachau.
The Association and indeed the entire family of Speakasians are aghast at this change in the stand of the EOW. From being the victims who were being protected we are now victims who are being victimized. Our protectors on whom we had utmost faith have now turned into tormentors.
This current action by the Mumbai Police has left us threatened. We are now scared that this victimization of the victims will percolate into arrest of many more of us.
As you have seen the conference video by now or soon will, you will realize that the media was receptive to our submissions and we hope that they will publish our viewpoint before the readers and viewers.
After the conference we shifted to the EOW and proceeded to submit our memorandum to the Joint commissioner of Police (Crime) Mr. Rajvardhanji. The Commissioner met us for a brief moment as he had to go for a meeting he could not give us a long hearing. We submitted the Memorandum to his office under acknowledgment.
As you must have heard from the various videos uploaded our pleas are quite simple and I list them down as follows:
1. Allow the company, to make payments due to the panelists. The Company is on record and has been repeatedly pleading before RBI and other agencies to be allowed to pay the panelists.
2. Complete the investigation in a set time frame.
3. Pending such investigation the company should be allowed to restart operations thereby ensuring continuous earnings to all panelists.
4. The Mumbai Police more specifically the EOW stops the arrest of the panelists. The panelists have no role in the running of the company or its management.
What amuses me no end is that the basic principal of natural justice is that everybody is to be treated as innocent until proved guilty?
In the case of SAOL the media and all the authorities have already pronounced SAOL to be guilty without even the first charge sheet having been filed. This is CONTEMPT of the highest order. "It seems like a denial of natural justice."
The value of achievement lies in the achieving…. Albert Einstein
Nowadays people know the price of everything and the value of nothing…. Oscar Wilde
Once again I wish to urge all Speakasians please have patience, stand solidly together behind the company, and trust your own judgment. Remember Tarak sahib’s words outside Thane Court “We are bound to win and we will definitely win”
Press Release Attachment
Memo To EOW Attachment
Jai Speakasia
Ashok Bahirwani
Secretary
AISPA
========================================================================
Press Release Attachment
 |
All India Speakasia Panelist Association |
PRESS STATEMENT
Victims now being accused of being perpetrators of Crime
Mumbai 17th September 2011: With arrest of two Speak Asia panelists Vikas Chandodkar and Ramesh Bachau the Economic Offenses wing – Mumbai Police has sent a wave of panic amongst the 12 lac panelists of the Company. Initially acting on the basis of one complaint the Mumbai police started investigation against the company, with the plea that it was protecting the interests of 12 lac panelists. This current action by them is dramatically diverse to their earlier stand that the panelists were victims of a massive fraud.
Reacting on the issue Mr. Ashok Bahirwani said “Our concern earlier was to recover our hard money and ensure that this source of livelihood continues. This current action by the Mumbai Police has left us threatened. We are now scared that this victimization of the victims will peculate with the arrest of many more of us. Our protectors on whom we had utmost faith have now turned into tormentors. We have utmost faith in the law of the land. However if this persecution continues we will be forced to explore peaceful and legal avenues to safe guard and protect our interests”
The panelists are planning various actions which includes, peaceful protest marches, signature campaigns, petitions to various departments of the governments, and court arrests. These protest actions will be peaceful and whiten the framework of the law.
========================================================================
========================================================================
Memo To EOW Attachment
|
All India Speakasia Panelist Association |
Aispa/outward/003 Date 20th September, 2011
To,
The Jt. Commissioner
EOW – Mumbai Police
Mumbai
Sir,
We are panelists of Speak Asia Online, who participate in the on line surveys conducted by the company and earn reward points. We are submitting this memorandum on behalf of 15-lakh panelists spread all over the country for reasons more elaborately set out herein under. We have received thousands of e-mails in support authorising us to initiate appropriate legal action for protection of the panelists.
The SAOL started its operations in February / March, 2010 and till May 12, 2011 there was no problem of any kind whatsoever, all panelist were receiving timely payments. A concerted campaign has been launched by some business rivals of SAOL through the media and other forums with the sole aim of destroying its credibility and financial standing.
We say that if such ulterior motives are allowed to succeed, the result is disastrous for the 15-lakh panellists.
The SAOL started its operations in February / March, 2010 and till May 12, 2011 there was no problem of any kind whatsoever, all panelist were receiving timely payments. A concerted campaign has been launched by some business rivals of SAOL through the media and other forums with the sole aim of destroying its credibility and financial standing.
We say that if such ulterior motives are allowed to succeed, the result is disastrous for the 15-lakh panellists.
We state that these panelists are unemployed youth, underemployed persons and house wives and those who wish to supplement their income by associating with the surveys conducted by SOAL. We say that lakhs of persons have earned handsomely from the association with SOAL. We say that it is relevant to note that not even a handful of the 15-lakh panelists have registered any protest anywhere in the country that they have lost money.
We say that the motivated and mala fide allegations made against SOAL have had the effect of virtually crippling its operations. We say that before the motivated campaign begun, there was no problem of any kind whatsoever and all the 15-lakh panelists were being well looked after. We say that the business rivals of SOAL have been making serious efforts to galvanize different instrumentalities of the State to take action against SOAL so as to stop it from functioning.
We say that that such is the reach and power of the business rivals that they have succeeded in forcing the principal banker of SOAL in Singapore, United Overseas Bank, to close its account in Singapore.
In this background we request that Mumbai Police should initiate immediate remedial action to protect us. However we see that now you are initiating action against us. We are victims, and not criminals. Hence please do not harass us
All India Speakasia Panelist Association
Sd/- Authorized signatory
=======================================================================
Send Suggestion and Comment