Kerala on Monday braced itself for another 48 hours of shutdown in view of the two-day general strike call given by the National Convention of Workers in protest against the “anti-labour policies” of the Union government.
Stung by a close succession of violent hartals on the Sabarimala issue, seven in four months, a sizeable segment of the citizenry went in for distress buying of essential supplies on Monday. Motorists and two-wheeler riders queued up at fuel outlets. State-owned liquor outlets witnessed a rush of customers. All trade unions, except the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, have declared their support to the stir. The Left and Congress trade unions in the unorganised sector have thrown their weight behind the strike call.
The strike is likely to stall rail and air operations and impede bus and taxi services. A vast majority of commercial establishments, government offices, public utilities, shops and restaurants are likely to remain shut . Trade union leaders reassured the public that the strike would not assume the proportion of a bandh.
Centre of Indian Trade Union (CITU) State president Anathalavattom Anandan said trade union activists would not impede the movement of private vehicles. They have exempted the tourism sector, Sabarimala pilgrims, social and religious functions, media and hospitals from the strike. He said there would be no forced closure of shops, roadblocks, attacks on traders as seen in the past. All India Trade Union Congress general secretary K. P. Rajendran and Indian National Trade Union Congress State general secretary V. J. Thomas echoed similar sentiments.
The Kerala Vyapari Vyasavasa Samiti has said its members would open for business on Tuesday and Wednesday.