Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala's ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF), led by the CPI-M, on Thursday announced that the state will observe a shutdown on Monday in solidarity with national trade unions and farmers' organisations.
The 12-hour-long lockdown declared by the Trade Unions is part of the Bharat Bandh announced on the same day by the farmers' unions in support of the protest against the Union government.
As usual for such hartals, all shops, establishments and markets will be closed or asked to be closed across the state.
"We have decided to take part in it as we are fighting the wrong policies of the Centre. Just look into the farmers' protest... now it has been more than a year since the protest began and we here in Kerala will fully join the nationwide protest. Around 5 lakh people will take part in the state which will be split into groups of five each in one place to observe Covid protocols," said LDF convenor A. Vijayaraghavan.
He also said that all public examinations scheduled for that day will be changed.