The Hindu : Front Page : Strike total, peaceful in Kerala

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Friday, Dec 15, 2006
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Strike total, peaceful in Kerala

Special Correspondent

Pro-Left trade unions' protest against economic policies of UPA Government

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Life came to a standstill in Kerala on Thursday as the State observed a 24-hour general strike called by pro-Left trade unions at the national level in protest against the economic policies of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government and to press for proactive measures to better the lot of the poor in the country.

Roads remained mostly deserted and shops and commercial establishments kept closed for the entire duration of the day as the common man also joined the stoppage of work. Central and State Government employees, pro-Left employees of private and public sector units, staff in insurance and banking sectors and in public utilities joined the strike, which was spearheaded in Kerala by the CITU-AITUC-led Trade Union Sponsoring Committee.

The strike was mostly peaceful. An attack on a steel mill at Kanjikode in Palakkad district and another on a hotel in Kozhikode city were the only two significant incidents of violence reported during the day. The police had made elaborate security arrangements to prevent intimidation of people and violence of any kind.

Train services operated normally and airports functioned as usual. Although taxi drivers had also joined the strike, cars operated from airports to ferry passengers to their destinations.

It was, however, another story at railway stations where cars and autorickshaws were few. The KSRTC operated only namesake services and there were only few passengers in these buses. All the major markets remained closed .

The organisers of the strike had exempted Sabarimala pilgrims, the International Film Festival of Kerala, water, milk and newspaper supply from the ambit of the strike.

Marches were taken out in all districts as part of the strike.

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