Singur, Nandigram defeats ''historic lessons'' for CPM:Mahasweta

Kochi, May 26 (UNI) Noted writer and Jnanapith Award winner Mahasweta Devi today said the defeat suffered by the CPM in the recent panchayat elections in Singur and Nandigram in West Bengal were ''historic lessons'' for the party.

Addressing a protest gathering by Moolampilly evictees here, the writer wondered at the ''silence of intellectuals in Kerala on social issues.'' She said it was regrettable that writers and intellectuals in Kerala did not protest to the government against issues such as the forcible eviction of Moolampilly residents for the Vallarpadam International Container Transshipment Terminal project.

''I wonder why they are afraid to criticise (Chief Minister) Achuthanandan,'' she added.

Stating that the CPM could not hope to win elections if atrocities such as those in Singur and Nandigram continued, the social activist said the unprecedented defeat of the party in these areas was a historic lesson to it.

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