LDF calls hartal,MPs write to Manmohan on pesticide

In a bid to exert pressure on the Central government to ban endosulfan across the country,the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) in Kerala has called for a dawn-to-dusk hartal on Friday. The LDF co-ordination committee,which met here on Tuesday,recommended to the government to explore the possibility of acting tough on the Kochi unit of Hindustan Insecticides Limited (HIL),a PSU under the Union Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers. HIL is producing endosulfan,among other pesticides and chemicals.

In support of the Kerala government,Left MPs held a sit-in outside Parliament demanding a ban on endosulfan. They wrote to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh seeking his intervention to ensure that India takes a stand against the pesticide at the Stockholm Convention in Geneva and press for a global ban on the insecticide.

Addressing the media,LDF convener Vaikom Vishwan said that the day-long hartal is in protest against the Indian stand at the Stockholm convention against banning the pesticide. “What is required is action with humane touch,not another round of study. Endosulfan has wreaked havoc in other states too. The Indian stand at the Stockholm convention is astonishing. The Central government has torpedoed the interest of the country,” said Vishwan,a member of the CPM central committee.