By IANS
Thiruvananthapuram : Unlucky 13? Kerala assembly member Simon Britto certainly doesn’t think so. He put up a fight to be allotted Room No. 13 in the old block of the MLA Hostel here and got it too.
Britto, a nominated member from the Anglo-Indian community, had been demanding this for the last nine months pointing out that the hostel had Room Nos. 12, 12 A, 12 B, and also 14 – but no Room No.13.
Apparently the number was left out because of superstitious reasons when the building was opened in 1959.
“I was allotted Room No 12 A and 12 B in 2006 and several months later I found out that there is no Room No.13 in the hostel. Last June I wrote to the government and to the speaker, saying this was not fair and I should be allotted Room No.13,” said Britto.
Britto, who belongs to the ruling Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M), was very particular that governments should not be superstitious.
“I am happy because yesterday I was notified that my present rooms will be given the numbers 13 and 13 A,” said Britto who incidentally celebrated his 54th birthday the same day.
Britto has been confined to a wheel chair since 1988 when, as a Students Federation of India activist, he was stabbed by political rivals.