Bi-partisan rally for century-old ashram

 

Politicians from both BN and Pakatan Rakyat today held rallies in a bid by the Indian community to save the century-old Vivekananda Ashram from being affected by a commercial development.

In a rally in front of the 110-year-old ashram today, MIC vice-president M Saravanan (right), MIC Youth leaders, and a good number of Pakatan representatives showed solidarity for the cause.

They were joined by some 300 people, some whom marched across Brickfields’ main thoroughfare pumping up more support for the ashram.

The trustees for the ashram want to develop a 23-storey building behind the ashram, an idea opposed by the leaders of the committee formed to save the ashram, who organised the protest.

PKR’s Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar and PKR communications director Fahmi Fadzil were the rare non-Indian politicians to show their support.

Nurul Izzah labelled the ashram as one of the last “souls” of Brickfields.

“We don’t want Brickfields to become another concrete jungle,” she said.

Nurul Izzah said that she also understood the concern of the trustees, who had said that they are unable to maintain the ashram due to a lack of funds.

“We are willing to meet them half-way. But what's important is for the voice of the people to be heard as well,” she said.

“We don’t want this place to lose its soul. And this ashram is one of Brickfields’ souls,” he said.

MIC Youth chief C Sivaraajh meanwhile said that those against redevelopment of the ashram land are willing to engage with the trustees to find a solution to the matter.

“I hope the board of trustees will be compelled not to go ahead with this project,” he said.

“Maybe this ashram can be converted to a library or a cultural centre. If there are any issues and any help needed, we can meet them and try to help,” he added.

‘Peserve buildings that are our identity’

Selanger state executive councillor V Ganabatirau (left) said that Bangsar and Brickfields used to be early Indian settlements but now there is very little left to preserve that identity.

“It’s important to preserve buildings that are our identity,” he said.

Among others in attendance were PKR vice-president Dr Xavier Jeyakumar, PKR’s Kapar MP G Manivannan and PKR activist S Jayathas.

The bid to have the general public sign a petition to urge that the ashram land be preserved has also been gaining momentum.

About 48,000 signatures had been collected at the time of writing and the committee said that it is confident of passing the 50,000 mark by the end of the day.

Tourism and Culture Minister Nazri Abdul Aziz had also supported keeping the ashram the way it is, but said that his ministry is unable to do anything more as the land belongs to a private entity, held in trust by the board of trustees.