Mangalore : Shridhar Gowda, President of the Endo Virodhi Horata Samithi, Kokkada has said  that the Endosulfan victims and those who are fighting for their cause have decided not to exercise their votes in the upcoming Assembly elections in protest against the apathy of the elected representatives towards their problems.

Speaking to reporters here, Gowda said  though political parties and leaders in Kerala have come out in the open to support Endosulfan victims who are fighting for a justifiable compensation, that was not the case with Karnataka.

In Karnataka the endosulfan victims are neglected as they are not a vote bank for political parties, he alleged. He said the Samithi will also oppose those parties which fail to include the Endosulfan issue in their manifesto/

Accusing the department of health of not taking the issue seriously, Gowda said  though a total of 1907 victims have been identified, many more have been left out without any valid reason. He further complained that the revenue department has still not sanctioned land for Rehabilitation centre at Kokkada though the government has promised Rs 3 croe for the project and also 3.5 acres land

He said the Kemar seer, Akhila Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH) have  pledged support for the cause of Endo  victims.
Ramesh K, State Secretary, ABVP, and Muhammad Muhsin, President, JIH Youth Wing, DK, were present.