Endosulfan becomes political issue as BJP-Left join hands

The raging political row over endosulfan in Kerala has united the BJP and the Left, which joined hands yesterday to press for a countrywide ban on the product even as the centre rejected the demand.

Chief minister V S Achuthanandan led a seven-hour-long 'satyagraha' in Thiruvananthapuram over the issue but the  Congress-led United Democratic Front and the NCP kept away from the satyagraha, which found broad support among the state's social and cultural leadership.

Among the notable figures who participated in the protest were senior BJP leader O Rajagopal, major arch bishop of Syro-Malankara Catholic Church Beselious Clemis, Kerala ministers M A Baby and C Divakaran, poet and social activist Sugathakumari, CPI leader C K Chandrappan, and LDF convener Vaikom Viswan. The government sponsored sit-in was attended by leaders from various political parties, writers and film artistes across the state.

Achuthananandan said the centre's stand that '' the pesticide will be banned after everyone dies was unfortunate''. ''The Prime Minister should correct his stand on the issue, which should not be politicised. Other states in the country will be prevailed upon to support the demand for banning endosulfan. This agitation is a warning to the Central government that it has no right to rob off the rights of states in a federal government system.''

The centre rejected an all-Indian ban on the pesticide after a meeting between prime minister Manmohan Singh and leader of opposition in the Kerala Assembly Oommen Chandy and chief of Kerala Congress Ramesh Chennithala in New Delhi.

 ''The use of endosulfan has been banned in Kerala. However, imposing a nationwide ban would require national consensus backed by a scientific study,'' said a press release issued by the Prime Minister's Office yesterday.