With the rubber sector facing yet another crisis, the Kerala Congress factions have launched agitations against the Central government. Friday will witness agitations by the Mani faction and their bête noire the faction led by Francis George, KC(Democratic) here.
The protest march and dharna in front of the Rubber Board headquarters here by KC(M) will commence by 9.30 a.m. The protest march which commences from Police Parade Grounds will be flagged off by party vice chairman Jose K. Mani.
The party is agitating against the closure of the regional offices and the Central government steps that would affect the interests of rubber growers. In addition to the party MPs, MLAs, panchayat members will participate in the dharna along with rubber farmers, said party district president E.J. Augasthy.
Meanwhile, KC(Democratic) will stage dharna at the Rubber Board head office by 10.30 a.m. on Friday. According to Francis George, party chairman, 90 per cent of the rubber farmers are from Kerala and the new crisis precipitated by the NDA government at the Centre was a clear pointer to the anti-Kerala stance of the BJP.
The National Federation of Rubber Producers Societies, the apex body of the rubber producing societies in the State, had already staged a dharna at the regional office at Vadavathur which is facing the axe as part of the austerity measures.
