Kollam District Congress Committee plans day-night stir for cashew workers

Kollam: The Kollam district Congress committee will organise a 48-hour day and night protests on August 5, 6, and 7 over the LDF government’s failure to reopen the cashew factories under the Cashew Corporation and Capex. The protest will be inaugurated by Mr K. Muraleedharan MLA at the head post office junction at Chinnakkada here on Friday.

Mr Kodikkunnil Suresh MP, who is the acting DCC president, said the Congress party’s demands include immediate reopening of cashew factories, Rs 3,000 interim relief for the workers, 25 kilograms of free rice for the workers and payment of the minimum wages announced by the UDF government.

“The LDF government has deceived the workers by promising to reopen the factories within ten days if they came to power. But not even a single factory has been opened so far after it assumed office over two months ago. Moreover, the factories under the Capex that were functioning properly are now closed. Mercykutty Amma, who was in the forefront of protests for the cashew sector, has now become a minister but is of no use to the workers,” Mr. Suresh alleged.

He also said that former Cashew Corporation MD K.A. Ratheesh’s political connections should be investigated. “Ratheesh conspired with fascist organisations to trade votes against the UDF in constituencies like Chavara and Karunagappally. He is the main villain behind the corruption in the corporation,” Mr. Suresh added.