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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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