Despite Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) chairman Yazdi Desai’s unilateral decision to stop the distribution in BPP managed colonies of the fortnightly Parsi Junction (PJ) published by Parvez Driver, an associate of former BPP chairman Dinshaw Mehta, the April 7, 2019 edition was circulated as usual in most Parsi baugs in Bombay.
Desai was quoted in the Hindustan Times of April 4 as stating, "I have asked our staff to stop circulation of the newsletter because it is illegal. We cannot let a newsletter which spreads lies and makes defamatory remarks be circulated in our colonies.”
Driver told Parsiana on April 5 that "there are no grounds for stopping the circulation…the people want to know what is going on… We are not doing (indulging in) yellow journalism… Jé chhè té lakhiyéch (We write about things as they are).”
BPP trustee Noshir Dadrawala confirmed that Desai’s move was unilateral. "The matter has not even been discussed, let alone decided whether formally or informally by the board,” he noted. He stated that though he did not subscribe to the "views and attacks” published in PJ, he did not "think it is right for anyone to stifle freedom of speech or expression.” Dadrawala was responding to an email he received from Parsiana’s reader and regular letter writer Piroja Jokhi. She had written to both Parsiana and Dadrawala expressing "shock” at Desai’s move.
"What does Desai think of himself, a trustee or a dictator? What do the other trustees have to say on the matter? Who has given that power to the trustees to tell us whom we should listen to and whom not?” fumed the feisty nonagenarian Jokhi. "The power-intoxicated trustees have squandered public money on fruitless litigations bringing shame and disgrace to the community. Now we are denied our right to information with a ban on a Parsi newsletter… The more you try to gag the voice of the Press, it will become louder and bolder.”
Dadrawala recalled previous "scurrilous pieces of writing and personal attacks on people” published in the WAPIZ (World Alliance of Parsi Zarthoshtis) Page in The Free Press Journal. Desai is president of the traditionalist body. "Public memory is short and hence it is important to remind those living in glass houses not to throw stones at others,” noted Dadrawala.
PJ is said to have a circulation of around 5,000 and has brought out about seven issues so far.