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Thiruvananthapuram, Apr 25 : Kerala Chief Minister V. S. Achuthanandan began a day-long fast here today to press for the demand for a countrywide ban on endosulfan pesticide.
Several other political leaders, peoples' representatives and civil rights activists also joined Achuthanandan in the mass fast at the martyr's column.
The fast, which is being observed in Kerala, as part of the 'anti-endosulfan day', began at 10 a.m. and would end at 5 pm.
The protestors are mounting pressure on the Centre for a ban on endosulfan at the Geneva Convention.
"It was strange that the Centre adopted a stand that people in every state should be affected by the pesticide before considering a nationwide ban," said Achuthanandan, while speaking at the venue.
According to reports, the scientific studies by expert panels formed by the Centre and the state had found that endosulfan was a deadly chemical.
The use of endosulfan has been banned in Kerala since 2005 after various diseases were reported from the northern district of Kasargod, where the pesticide had been sprayed on cashew plantations for 20 years.
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