Now, The Pesticide Row: Kerala CM Blames Centre

"Both the Centre and Congress are pro-endosulfan, leaving the people at the mercy of corporates,'' said Achuthanandan and termed Union environment minister Jairam Ramesh as "environmentally unfriendly.'' Ramesh, who belongs to Karnataka, had failed to take into account the plight of 96 villages in the state, he said.

The CM also asked defence minister A K Antony, who began his poll campaign from Kasargode where the pesticide controversy arose, to clarify his stand.

Refuting the charges, state Congress chief Ramesh Chennithala said the Centre was not opposed to banning the pesticide, but had only said it would take a stand after some more studies. Read the full report here.

Source: Times News Network, Thiruvananthapuram.