KC-M MP's fast enters third day; PM's intervention sought

As the indefinite fast by Kerala Congress (Mani) leader Jose K Mani, MP, over falling rubber prices entered the third day here today, another MP from the party sought the immediate intervention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in resolving the issues raised and ending the protest.
In a letter to Modi, KC(M) Rajya Sabha member Joy Abraham warned that the protest here may turn violent and go out of control in case the health of Mani deteriorated.
Abraham urged the Prime Minister to take necessary steps to find a solution to the farmers' long pending demands that a remunerative price be ensured for natural rubber.

Meanwhile, Mani, who is staging protest in front of the statue of Mahatma Gandhi with a large number of farmers, said that as a member of parliament, he was committed to the cause of farmers and cannot ignore their hardships.
Mani, son of Kerala Congress (M) supremo and former Finance Minister K M Mani, said he had also written to the Prime Minister seeking his intervention to find a lasting solution to the problems of rubber 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.

He also sought a complete reorganisation of rubber board and waving tax on rubber farmers till the product gets a reasonable price.