Kerala witnesses near total lockdown as Bharat Bandh begins

Thiruvananthapuram: The Bharat Bandh called by farmers' organisations seeking withdrawal of farm laws has turned to a near total lockdown in Kerala as both the ruling Left and the opposition Congress backing it.

Markets, shops, establishments and offices were closed and all the public vehicles, barring private vehicles, were not seen off the road moving. "Everything in the state has come to a complete standstill," said a member of the civil society.

In Kerala, the biggest advantage is any political party calling a state-wide protest gets a thumps up from the civil society and people remain indoors.

On account of the state and the entire country coming under lockdown due to Covid protocols for almost past 18 months, Monday's protest is the first political shutdown that Kerala is witnessing.

However, like on any 'bandh' day, the ISRO units were all functioning and its employees were taken to the respective units in the state capital on their buses amid armed security.

Earlier, the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) had said that it will run limited local services with police escort on major routes focusing on hospitals, railway stations and airports.

Long-distance bus services will resume after 6 pm, the KSRTC said.

All university examinations scheduled for Monday have been postponed.

The only deterrent for Monday's shutdown is that it has come on World Tourism Day, when the entire state and tourism activities will also be closed, just when it was trying to revive.