Thiruvananthapuram:
Demanding a nationwide ban on the pesticide Endosulfan, Kerala Chief Minister and veteran CPI(M) leader V S Achuthanandan today led a day-long statewide mass fast here.
He was joined in the seven-hour fast as part of 'anti-Endosulfan day' from 10 am by leaders of various political parties, including BJP, cultural personalities, rights activists and representatives of NGOs.
The Congress supported the demand for a ban, but its leaders did not join the agitation, holding that the issue was being used by the Left as a weapon against the Centre.
Addressing the protesters, Achuthanandan said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's stand that further studies were needed before a nationwide ban was a "challenge" to the people and it had to be "corrected."
He said Endosulfan had been banned by 81 countries and others were following suit. There was no reason why India should hesitate to formulate a policy on deadly chemicals like Endosulfan, he said.
The protesters also wanted India to advocate a global ban on Endosulfan during discussions at the Stockholm convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POP) being held in Geneva, Switzerland.
Kerala has been pressing for a nationwide ban on Endosulfan as studies by expert panels had shown that its use in northern Kasargod district had caused nearly 500 deaths and chronic health problems, including deformities in hundreds.
An all-party delegation from the state had last week called on Singh to press the demand.
The LDF government in Kerala had attacked the Centre for not taking a firm stand on the issue under pressure from the multinational pesticide lobby.
Protests pledging support to the campaign were held in all towns, cities and villages throughout the state.
Ending the fast by accepting lemon juice offered by poet and social activist Sugathakumari, Achuthanandan sought the support of all sections of the society cutting across political lines to carry forward the campaign against Endosulfan.