‘Union government bent on scuttling nationwide ban’ The Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) alleged here on Thursday that that the State government was trying to weaken the case of hundreds of impoverished endosulfan victims by refusing to implement the relief and rehabilitation package recommended by the National Human Rights Commission, while the Union government was bent on scuttling the orders for a nationwide ban on the “killer” pesticide. As part of weakening the case of the victims, the State is trying to delay the implementation of the package by trying to come out with a revised list of a mere 108 victims to deprive 4,182 others of any assistance and reduce the burden on the exchequer, DYFI State Secretary T.V. Rajesh, MLA, said at a press conference here after a day-long visit to endosulfan-affected areas in the district. ‘Word not kept’ He alleged that Chief Minister Oommen Chandy had not fulfilled the assurances made during his much publicised mass-contact programme held in the district last year that the cases of all deserving victims would be taken up. Mr. Chandy had recently assured that a three-member ministerial delegation would visit the district next week to re-examine the fresh list of victims. However, the Ministers’ visit had been reportedly postponed, giving credence to the suspicion that the government was trying to delay the disbursal of the compensation. The DYFI team first visited the house of Janu Naik at Belloor, who had committed suicide on learning that his name was not on the revised list. The team members, who included the former Minister P.K. Sreemathy, consoled the bereaved family, stating that the team would hand over a memorandum to the Cabinet committee.