An employee of Fertilisers and Chemicals Travancore Limited (FACT), A. Vishwanathan, who was on hunger strike before the company headquarters in Eloor over the last eight days, was arrested and shifted to a hospital after his health deteriorated.
Another employee of the public sector fertilizer company, George Thomas of FACT CD Workers’ Organisation, took the place of Mr. Vishwanathan, who was affiliated to FACT CD Workers’ Congress, INTUC.
The protest is being organised under the aegis of Save FACT Action Committee, which has been demanding natural gas for the company at affordable rates and a financial package for its immediate revival.
Vicar of St. Gregorios Orthodox Church Thomas Paul Ramban garlanded Mr. Thomas before he began his fast, said a press release issued by the committee. Parishioners of the church also expressed their solidarity with the protesting FACT employees as they marched to the venue of the hunger strike in Eloor, the press release.
A protest meeting held by the employees in the evening was addressed by BJP leader N. P. Shankarankutty.
Meanwhile, trade union leaders have expressed their disappointment in not being able to clinch a deal with the State government by which the government would forgo K-VAT on natural gas being supplied to the fertilizer company.
