The Gandhi Bhavan Samrakshana Samithi is all set to stage an indefinite fast to help save Gandhi Bhavan, here at 9 am on Friday. The Samithi has been staging a dharna demanding the protection of the Gandhi Bhavan premises which will soon be acquired for Metro Rail-related work.
The Gandhi Peace Foundation office-bearers said they have been cheated by the authorities who have denied them an alternative land for Gandhi Bhavan as compensation.
All-India Gandhi Smarak Nidhi chairman P Gopinathan Nair will inaugurate the fast which will be taken by Gandhi Darshan general convener Adv Soman Paul.
“After land acquisition for Kochi Metro, the remaining nine cents will be in the custody of the Gandhi Peace Foundation. Besides, it was suggested that the land in front of Seematti would be allotted to Gandhi Bhavan for relocation. But the authorities have backtracked and the cause of the same should be disclosed. The campaign stating that the committee had decided to hand over the assets of Gandhi Bhavan is a big lie. The committee convened on November 24 decided not to give the land for Kochi Metro unless the compensation decided by the government was given,” said Justice P K Shamsudhein, chairman, Gandhi Peace Foundation - Gandhi Bhavan Samrakshana Samithi, in a press release.
Justice V R Krishna Iyer said that only if the required land is acquired from the Gandhi Bhavan premises, the remaining building can be retained and used as an office of Gandhi Peace Foundation Centre, Gandhi Bhavan Committee and Kerala Madya Nirodhana Samithi. He pointed out that the library of Gandhi Peace Foundation and Poornodaya Book stall can also coexist there.Gandhi Peace Foundation chairperson K Sarojam in a statement said that only the 7.5 cents of land required for Kochi Metro should be acquired and the remaining land should be set aside and the Gandhi Bhavan should be retained.
The Samithi has been staging a dharna demanding the protection of the Gandhi Bhavan premises which will soon be acquired for Metro Rail-related work.