Poet Sugathakumari’s mediation attempt to find a solution to the Vilappilsala anti-garbage plant strike failed on Monday. The poet who reached the protest venue in the afternoon conveyed Urban Affairs Minister Manjalamkuzhy Ali’s assurance that the protesters’ demands will be met. She also urged Vilappilsala panchayat president S Sobhanakumari to end the indefinite fast. However, the protesters turned down the poet’s requests and demanded the government to issue an order in this regard.
The poet and Congress leader V M Sudheeran had held a meeting with the Minister in the forenoon. ‘’The Minister told us the plant will not be reopened, but he cannot announce it in public as the case is being considered by the High Court,’’ she told Samara Samithi leaders. ‘’If the government goes back on its promise, myself and Sudheeran will join you here,’’ Sugathakumari added.
The poet then contacted the Minister and told the masses that he would address them over phone. The Samithi leaders turned down the request and asked the poet to advise him to meet the aspirations of the people. The poet left the venue with an assurance to take up the issue with the Chief Minister.
Later in the evening, the poet held talks with CPM state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan and Mayor K Chandrika at the AKG Centre here.