Kurien's executive assistant fired from GCMMF

Vadodara, Apr 4 (UNI) The row over transfer of former Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF) chairman Dr Verghese Kurien's executive assistant(EA) P A Joseph today took a new turn with the Federation terminating the services of the EA rejecting the Milkman of India's request for a reconsideration.

The day Dr Kurien's resignation from the Rs 3600 crore Federation was unanimously accepted by the Board on March 24, Mr Joseph, who was with Dr Kurien for the last 15 years as his Executive Assistant, was transferred to the Kolkata Zonal office of GCMMF as manager.

As Mr Joseph failed to join his duties at Kolkata before the deadline of April 1 reportedly on medical ground, the GCMMF managing director B M Vyas today ordered his termination.

Describing his termination as ''most undemocratic'', Mr Joseph said the Federation managing director had acted in an arrogant manner even as he had sought a week's time to join his duties on health ground.

After GCMMF transferred Mr Joseph to Kolkata, Dr Kurien wrote several letters to the GCMMF board members requesting them to reconsider their decision as the board had agreed to continue all the facilities and perks provided to him for life in recognition of his contribution to the Federation as its founder chairman.

UNI SS PP PA PC2227