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Strike total, peaceful in Kerala

Special Correspondent

Life comes to a standstill; a bandh-like situation prevails in the State

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The dawn-to-dusk general strike called by trade unions owing allegiance to the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) in protest against the increase in the prices of petroleum products was total and peaceful in Kerala.

Barring an attempt by pro-LDF activists to forcibly close a school that was sought to be opened in Kasaragod district, no untoward incident of any significance was reported from any part of the State during the general strike. The LDF had lent its support to the strike called as part of a country-wide agitation by Left parties in protest against the Central decision to increase the prices of petroleum products disregarding the various proposals submitted by them.

The situation was bandh-like all over the State with roads remaining deserted for most part of the day. Although the trade unions had exempted private vehicles from the ambit of the strike, there were only few vehicles on the road in most parts of the State. The Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) did not operate most of its services during the strike period and taxis, autorikshaws and other public carriers remained off the road.

Vehicular traffic resumed towards evening, but shops and commercial establishments mostly remained closed. Attendance in government offices was thin and not much transaction took place in banks. Markets were deserted and lorries carrying various goods could be seen parked in nearby areas waiting to be unloaded. Workers took marches in district headquarters around noon as part of the general strike. Addressing the workers, AITUC State general secretary and Trade Union Sponsoring Committee convener Kanam Rajendran pointed out that the situation on the oil front was going to become more serious in the coming days with the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs clearing the proposal to allow oil companies to effect automatic hike in the prices of petroleum products every time the global crude price crosses the $75 mark. Given the prediction that crude price would cross the $100 mark soon, this would result in a very grave situation in the country and cause serious hardship to the people, he said.

The Committee said in a statement issued later in the day that the strike was total had resulted in a band-like situation in the State. It congratulated the workers who had responded overwhelmingly to the strike call and said it had been decided to organise stronger agitations against the `anti-people' policies of the United Progressive Alliance Government.

Leader of the Opposition Oommen Chandy, however, saw double standard on the part of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) with regard to the protest in Kerala and West Bengal and pointed out that while in Bengal the protest involved only a mere observance, in Kerala it had been turned into a general strike crippling normal life. This is nothing short of a bitter gift from the new LDF Government to the people, he said.

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