Thirvuananthapuram: Even as the controversy over Congress spokesman Abhishek Manu Singhvi`s appearance in Court for Endosulfan companies continued to rage, Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy on Saturday said there was no change in the
party`s stand for a total ban on Endosulfan in the country.
"There is no question of Congress changing its stand on Endosulfan, whatever be the arguments," he told reporters here when asked about Singhvi`s arguments in Court against the ban.
Chandy said KPCC president Ramesh Chennithala had talked to
Singhvi and the latter had given an explanation which was
different from reports in the media. "But that does not make
any change in our stance," he said.
Senior Congress leader VM Sudheeran, who had strongly
criticised Singhvi for appearing on behalf of pesticide firms,
today described as `nonsensical` the Indian Council of Medical
Research position that further study was needed on Endosulfan.
Meanwhile, CPI-M state secretariat in a statement here said
the appearance of Congress spokesman for Endosulfan companies
had exposed the `unholy nexus` between the Congress and the
pesticide lobby.
Describing Abhishek Singhvi`s arguments opposing the ban on
Endosulfan as `dangerous,` CPI-M wanted Chief Minister Oommen
Chandy and KPCC to ask their party high command to expel
Singhvi from its leadership.
The Congress was bent on helping the pesticide lobby
without any regard for the consequences faced by poor people
affected by dangerous pesticides like Endosulfan, it said.
Singhvi was only trying to protect the interests of the
Congress party and the UPA government while appearing for
Endosulfan manufacturers, the statement alleged.
PTI
