Demanding immediate steps to resolve the crisis which has affected the rubber industry in the state, the Kerala State Cooperative Rubber Marketing Federation (RubberMark) will hold a dharna to the Rubber Board office in Kottayam on November 5.
On the same day, rubber traders across the state will close down their shops and observe a hartal in protest against the crisis in the industry. Congress leader, T H Mustafa stated at a press conference here that immediate measures should be taken to curb the fall in rubber prices. The government should take steps to reduce the import of rubber products and ensure 30 per cent hike in rubber import duty.
The Federation has demanded that the government should ensure that fertilisers are provided to the rubber planters at subsidised rates.
If the government fails to take the necessary steps, the Federation informed that a memorandum will be handed over to the Chief Minister, Finance Minister and Minister for Cooperation.
As part of the protest, Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha MPs will hold a dharna on November 11 at Delhi.If required, the MPs will meet the Prime Minister, Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, Union Minister A K Antony, Anand Sharma and Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram.
Mustafa said if the Left organisations gherao the Cliff House, the Youth Congress should ensure that CPM state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan and opposition leader V S Achuthanandan are not allowed of their homes.
He criticised the Home Minister for failing to assure the safety of the CM who was pelted with a stone. “ If he is not adept as a Home Minister, he must resign. If he does not resign, the CM should remove him from his portfolio,” Mustafa added.
Source: India Times
