Anti-Centre hartal brings Kerala to a standstill
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Thiruvananthapuram: The dawn-to-dusk hartal called by the Congress and the Left Democratic Front (LDF) to protest the surging up fuel prices has brought Kerala to a standstill.
Daily commuters and people heading to airports and railway stations were stranded as there was no public transport.
Buses and autorickshaws stayed off the roads. Even the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) sis not conduct services. Few private vehicles were seen plying.
Most of the shops and business establishments remained shut.
Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president M M Hassan had earlier promised that his party will not 'trouble people in the flood-affected areas during the shutdown. He had assured that the strike would not affect the flood relief vehicles, weddings, hospitals, airports, foreign tourists and essential services.
The All-India Congress Committee (AICC) had originally called for a Bharat Bandh from 9 am to 3 pm on Monday.
The Kannur University, Calicut University and Cochin University of Science and Technology have postponed all exams scheduled for Monday. New dates will be declared later. The MG University and Kerala University had postponed all exams till September 15.
The main constituents of the LDF in Kerala, CPM and CPI, had also called for a simultaneous nationwide hartal from 6 am and 6pm. CPM leader Elamaram Kareem MP said flood relief vehicles and the tourism sector will be spared from the shutdown.
The Congress had clarified earlier that the vehicles will not be blocked and that demonstartions and sit-ins will be organised focusing on fuel stations. The party claimed that all parties in the national opposition, except Bahujan Samaj Party, have offered support.