Kottayam: Kerala Congress (M) Lok Sabha member Jose K Mani Monday began an indefinite fast seeking an urgent intervention of the Centre in ending the farm sector crisis, particularly the problems faced by rubber growers.
Mani launched the protest in front of Gandhi statue here after leading a demonstration of the party workers against Centre's "negative approach" towards farmers.
His major demands include complete ban on import of rubber, pegging of prices of rubber at Rs 200 per kg and Rs 500 crore allocation from Central Price Stabilisation Fund to grant subsidy to thousands of farmers completely depending on rubber for their livelihood in the state.
Mani, son of Kerala Congress (M) supremo and former Finance Minister K M Mani, also sought a complete reorganisation of rubber board and writing off tax on rubber farmers till the product gets a reasonable price.
The 'hunger strike' was inaugurated by Kerala Congress (M) Working Chairman and state Water Resources Development Minister P J Joseph.