Communist Marxist Party (CMP) leader C.P. John launched a 24-hour hunger strike at the Martyrs’ Column here on Wednesday in protest against the State government’s failure to take steps to provide compensation to the tune of ₹10 lakh to the next of kin of those who died of fever, besides giving free food and medicines for those who had fever.
Leader of the Opposition Ramesh Chennithala, while inaugurating the hunger stir, demanded the resignation of Health Minister K.K. Shylaja for the fever contagion that had taken away 200 lives. Never before was the Health Department run by a more inefficient Minister, resulting in the highest fever death toll since Independence, he said.
Senior United Democratic Front (UDF) leaders made their presence felt at the venue. The hunger stir is a follow-up of the party’s Secretariat march and the lack of response from the government to its demand for compensation for the fever victims.
The CMP led by Mr. John is a part of the UDF. Partners of the Opposition coalition have been holding separate agitations against the government in their way. The Congress and the Indian Union Muslim League are currently holding a series of agitations concentrated in the districts.
