Ludhiana cycle association has members from other turfs

With more than 1,800 members, the United Cycles Parts and Manufacturers Association (UCPMA) in Ludhiana claims to be the biggest association of Asia.

There is a catch here, of course. More than 400 of its members are not from the cycle trade any more. They have changed their professions, said association sources.

Association President GL Pahwa confirmed that several members were now engaged in other professions. "We have formed a committee to identify and expel those who don't belong to our profession."

Surprisingly, these members had changed their profession years ago, but the management has decided to take action now. Only after the UCPMA Finance Secretary Jaswant Singh Birdi accused Pahwa and Varinder Kapoor, the general secretary of the association of committing a fraud in the association, did the issue come into focus.

Interestingly, addressing mediapersons a couple of days ago, Pahwa and Kapoor had said that Birdi is not involved in the cycle business, but has a pakora shop. They had added that in this light, Birdi should be expelled from the association.

Today, however, Pahwa changed his tune and said, "Let the committee give its report as to how many members have changed their professions. Later, we will take action against them."

Birdi, however, said he had opened the pakora shop for his son and not for himself.