THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala Regulation of Hartal Bill, 2015, which seeks to impose “reasonable controls” on hartals, was referred to the Assembly subject committee on Wednesday amid vociferous protests from the opposition benches. A three-day prior notice before a hartal call can be given and the power vested in the government to prohibit a hartal are some of the contentious clauses in the Bill.
The opposition called it a ‘black bill’ and argued that it had been introduced violating constitutional provisions. They wanted the Bill to be circulated outside, to elicit public opinion, before sending it to the Subject Committee.
Home minister Ramesh Chennithala, however, assured that the Bill did not seek to ban hartals or trade unions or any kind of strike. “This is only an attempt to strike a delicate balance between the rights of the common man and political freedom. The government has been witness to countless instances when the public was put to unspeakable difficulties during a hartal,” the home minister said. He said article 19(2) of the Constitution allows the state to impose reasonable restrictions.
When he was reminded that he too had called for hartals as KPCC president, Mr Chennithala conceded the point. “True, I had called for hartals. But now the times have changed, and we need to heed the voice of the common man.” he said. The home minister also hinted that the Bill was mainly intended to nip in the bud the blossoming trend of fringe parties calling for hartals.
Here is what Chennithala said when opposition leader Kodiyeri Balakrishnan asked whether the Congress had waited for three days to call a hartal when Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi died: “I am not against hartals. But now we have a situation where anyone can call a hartal and get away with it.” This comment was quickly pounced upon by CPM leader G Sudhakaran. “What right have you got to say that only political parties should organise a hartal,” he asked.
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