Kerala - Kollam   

Strike throws life out of gear in Kollam and Pathanamthitta

Staff Reporter

Teachers, Government employees boycott work, trade unions hold protest marches

KOLLAM: The general strike called by the Left parties on Tuesday in protest against the fuel price hike affected normal life in the city but was peaceful. No untoward incidents were reported. Although private vehicles plied in dribs and drabs, most roads wore a deserted look. Commercial activities at the main business areas of Chinnakada and Chamakada in the city came to a standstill.

Shops, petrol bunks, restaurants and commercial establishments, including banks all over the district, remained closed.

Private and KSRTC buses, taxis and autorickshaws remained off the roads. Most passengers who arrived at the Kollam railway station by long distance trains got stranded till evening. By 4 p.m. autorickshaws started plying.

All educational institutions in the district remained closed. Government offices did not function. The civil station here wore a holiday look. Public markets were partially open in the morning. Police pickets were arranged at all sensitive points in the district. In addition to that police maintained vigil through constant patrolling.

The Action Council of State Employees and Teachers termed the strike a major success. District convener of the council Basil Joseph said that the teachers and Government staff in the district extended total support to the strike.

The striking teacher and staff along with pro-Left trade unions organised a march through the city shouting slogans demanding the withdrawal of the fuel price hike. In a statement, district secretary of the Kerala NGO Union V.P. Jayaprakash Menon thanked the staff and teachers for making the strike a success.

Meanwhile, in a statement, district president of the Kerala NGO Association S. Ulhas Kumar, alleged that employees who were willing to work were not given enough protection by the police. He further alleged that the police was not given any direction in this connection and it was a ploy by the Government to ensure the victory of the strike. Although many of the State Governments had slashed the sales tax on petrol and diesel in order to keep the fuel prices as low as possible, the Kerala Government shows no interest in that direction, he alleged.

In Pathanamthitta

Our Staff Reporter adds from Pathanamthitta: The general strike was total and peaceful in the district of Pathanamthitta.

The strike was supported by the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) partners and organisations affiliated to them. The strike had hit the normal life in many parts of the district as it literally led to a bandh-like situation through out the district.

Shops and other business establishments in various towns and even in rural areas remained close in view of the strike call. Vehicular traffic came to a standstill during daytime as vehicles, except a few two-wheelers, were off the roads.

The strike-supporters staged marches protesting against the fuel price hike in the towns of Pathanamthitta, Thiruvalla, Adoor, Pandalam, Ranni, Konni, Kozhencherry and Mallappally.

Communist Party of India (Marxist) district secretary K.Ananthagopan inauguarted the march in Thiruvalla town in the morning. DYFI State joint secretary R.Sanalkumar, former municipal chairman Raju Mundamattom, LDF Assembly mandalam convener Peringara Radhakrishnan, among others spoke.

In Pathanamthitta, the United Trade Union Sponsoring Committee staged a protest march to the Head Post Office. CITU district president P.J.Ajayakumar inaugurated the march. Revolutionary Youth Front State secretary Saleem P.Chacko and CPI(M) leaders also spoke.

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Strike throws life out of gear in Kollam and Pathanamthitta

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