The Pengal Otrumai agitation entered the second phase with its leaders Gomathy, Kausalya and Rajeswary ending the hunger stir on Sunday.
They said the hunger agitation was called off as there were chances of the police intervening to weaken the strike. They would not go back unless Electricity Minister M.M. Mani resigned for his derogatory comments against women and tendered a public apology.
The police on Saturday forcefully took them to the taluk hospital at Adimaly and Ms.Gomathy and Ms.Kasualya returned to the agitation venue by night and announced that they were ending the hunger stir.
In addition to them, another activist Sreelatha also joined the agitation. Ms. Rajeswary who was admitted to the hospital after her condition turned worse on Saturday morning also joined the agitation on Sunday morning.
Ms. Gomathy was reluctant to accept the medical care at the hospital and alleged that there was a ploy by the government to thwart their agitation. She said the police were using force to weaken the strike.
The agitation was launched on April 23 following comments against the women collective by Mr. Mani at a public speech at Irupathekkar near Adimaly. The agitation turned into a political issue when the Congress, BJP and Aam Aadmi Party supported it.
Ms. Gomathy said the strike would be intensified as they were getting public support. The agitation venue was peaceful on Sunday though a large number of police were camping in Munnar town following intelligence report that anti-social elements could enter the venue to create trouble.
A senior police officer said they were peacefully holding the agitation. They were shifted to the hospital after doctors confirmed that their condition turned worse on Saturday, he said.
