Close on the heels of a seven-hour fast observed by the Chief Minister Mr V. S. Achuthanandan, the ruling CPM-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) in the State has declared a dawn-to-dusk hartal on Friday, in support of its demand for a total ban on production and use of pesticide endosulfan.

Just as the ‘fast' coincided with the beginning of the conference of parties to the Stockholm Convention at Geneva, the hartal would mark the close of the session, a spokesman for the State Committee of the LDF said here on Tuesday. While seeking cooperation of the larger public for the smooth and successful conduct of the hartal, the LDF State Committee has said that utility services such as hospitals, newspaper vends and milk supplies would be spared.

Taking a cue from the Chief Minister, the LDF spokesman took cudgels at the Centre's ‘negative' attitude towards the State's demand for a ban on endosulfan.

It was unfortunate that it continued to refuse to join nations across the world for a global ban on the pesticide known for its harmful impact on public health, as evidenced in Kasaragod district cashew plantations that underwent aerial spraying of the same.

‘POSTURING DENIED'

Several studies had pointed to the link between endosulfan and the genetic deformities arising from its widespread use.

What the least the Centre should have done was to not oppose a global ban on endosulfan at the Geneva conference.

The spokesman made mincemeat of the Opposition Congress-led United Democratic Front's (UDF) criticism that the LDF and the Chief Minister were merely posturing after having done precious little to ban the use of the pesticide.

He said an organised campaign against endosulfan had begun in 2000 and the next LDF Government that signed into office had banned its use in the State.

It was now left to the Centre to ban its production and use across the country.

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