Opposition calls for enforcing ban on Endosulfan

Trivandrum, India, Jul. 4 2002 (INS News) -- Opposition leader V.S Achutanandan has lashed out all the government for lifting the ban on the usage of the dreaded chemical Endosulfan in the State.

V S Achuthandan, Opposition Leader, Kerala State

Meeting the press in Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday Achutanandan asked the government to reinforce the ban immediately. He warned the government that otherwise the Opposition parties would enforce the ban of the chemical in the State.

At least sixty people have died of cancer following the after effects of Endosulfan. More than 200 children are now affected, he added.

He condemned the government's statement in the State Assembly over the issue and said that those were mere excuses to skirt the responsibility. The government has the right to protect the life of its people, he said.

-- Binu Raveendranath in Trivandrum, India
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