Kerala: Left parties not to back today’s hartal

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Left parties, including the CPM and CPI, will not support the dawn-to-dusk hartal called by 30 dalit organizations in the state on Monday.
Instead, the CPM will be organizing marches to central government offices, including Raj Bhavan, on Tuesday. The CPI, meanwhile, has opted to remain passive saying the protesting groups hadn’t sought its support.

Monday’s hartal is against the ‘dilution’ of the SC/ ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and killings of dalits during the nation-wide strike on the issue on April 2.


While the Congress will be holding solidarity meeting at the KPCC and DCC headquarters, the Muslim Youth League, in a statement, said it would support to the hartal.

CPI leader and agriculture minister V S Sunilkumar has cancelled his official functions scheduled in Thrissur and Kozhikode districts on Monday. “The CPI had backed the nationwide strike on April 2. Though the party doesn’t oppose Monday’s hartal, I am extending my personal support by cancelling my schedules,” he said.

The KPCC function at 10am on Monday will be inaugurated by AICC working committee member A K Antony. Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala will also attend. KPCC president M M Hassan will lead the solidarity meeting in Kannur.