Kolkata, Aug. 25 -- A stove, a pot of milk and a pavement have become unlikely protagonists in a political drama unfolding on Kolkata's streets. At the centre of it is Sita Devi, a pavement dweller whose roadside struggle with a pot of milk has now taken her to the Chief Minister's 'Janatar Darbar', where Suvendu Adhikari on Tuesday promised her a home.

Minister Agnimitra Paul recently reprimanded Devi for boiling milk for her child on the roadside.

Devi arrived at the BJP office in Salt Lake with her family and two children to attend Adhikari's 'Janata Darbar' programme, where she sought help with housing.

"I have told her not to stay on the pavement. Pavements are meant for people to walk on. I have told her that KMC will make the necessary arrangements for her accommodation," Adhikari said, clarifying that the woman had not made any allegation against anyone.

He alleged that Mamata Banerjee had sent people with money to persuade her to speak against the BJP.

"Mamata is trying to influence her with money, but Sita Devi has faith in the Chief Minister and the BJP and has not fallen into her trap," he said.

Adhikari said neither the Left Front nor the TMC had addressed the plight of pavement dwellers during their respective tenures.

On Monday, Mamata Banerjee had offered to help the family with accommodation, food and education for the children.

Banerjee had said: "If necessary, we can arrange for the family to stay at the home of one of our colleagues. If the family wants, I am ready to take responsibility for them."

Adhikari hit back at Banerjee, asking why she did not accommodate the family herself. "Let her take them, if the woman agrees," he said, adding that even her party colleagues had no faith in her.

The Park Street episode triggered a political row after Urban Development minister Agnimitra Paul was seen reprimanding Sita Devi for lighting a stove on the pavement to heat milk for her child.

Amid criticism, Paul on Monday said she may have "shouted" but should have spoken more softly. She, however, maintained that pavements were meant for pedestrians, not habitation, and stressed the need to improve

Kolkata's streets.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.