Singur-like protest in Santiniketan against housing project:Mahaswet

Santiniketan, Nov 28 (UNI) Eminent writer Mahasweta Devi today launched a symbolic protest against West Bengal government's bid to give land for a housing project near Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore's abode by breaking down a pillar.

''I have broken the pillar, arrest me,'' the Magsaysay award winning author challenged the police present there. ''A Singur-like agitation will be launched here also against the Sriniketan Santiniketan Development Authority(SSDA),'' she said.

She was expressing her ire against the SSDA for giving land to the Bengal Ambuja group to build a housing project in Khowai, close to Viswa-Bharati.

Incidentally, SSDA chairman is Lok Sabha Speaker and CPI(M) MP Somnath Chatterjee.

'Khowai Bachao Andolan' had been on for long to save Khowai and protect the environment of Santiniketan. Cases had been filed in the Calcutta High Court and the Supreme Court against the housing project to which the author too was a party. However, they lost the case about a year ago.

This morning, before leaving for Kolkata, Mahasweta Devi reached Khowai and smashed down three small pillars which marked the boundary of the housing project, District Magistrate Khalil Ahmed told reporters.

Police rushed in when they heard she had reached the spot but stood mute spectators.

Meanwhile, SSDA executive officer Ashok Das said the chairman had been informed of the incident.

''Mahasweta Devi broke down the pillars illegally and legal action would be taken,'' he said.

The writer came here yesterday to address a seminar on 'Rabindranath Tagore's education and thoughts'.

UNI XC PL LL KN1916