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The chain began from Kasargod with CPM politburo member S Ramachandran Pillai as the first man and ended with party general secretary Prakash Karat as the last man standing in front of Raj Bhavan here. Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan and CPM general secretary Pinarayi Vijayan also joined him. Barring Idukki district which was in the grip of Thekkady boat tragedy all the 13 other districts joined in the chain. Vijayan said that Kerala being a state rich in cash crops was bound to suffer economic reversals from the deal. He said no articles which were governed by the deal would be allowed to be traded in the State.
Karat said that the Centre had unilaterally gone ahead with an agreement that would affect the agriculture sector which was, in fact, a state subject. The Prime Minister had not held even one of the promised discussions to clear the apprehensions of Kerala on the Asean deal. Mr Achuthanandan warned the Centre that the protest was only the beginning of a long-drawn campaign against the implementation of the agreement.