Kochi: The dawn-to-dusk hartal called by the LDF and the UDF against the frequent fuel price hikes affected normal life in the district as transport buses, autos and taxis stayed off road while educational institutions, shops and establishments remained closed till evening on Monday.
The private vehicles were out in large numbers from morning itself as activists of the Congress and the CPM were seen forcibly closing shops and stopping vehicles at many areas, including MG Road.
The residents of islands like Pizhala were isolated as the State Water Transport Department didn’t operate any services during the hartal.
Many marriages and engagement ceremonies, including that of the son of Opposition Leader Ramesh Chennithala, were scheduled on the day. As a result, many functions were disrupted.
“We arranged the maximum number of vehicles out of our budget to take the relatives and friends to the marriage venue. But still many families couldn’t attend with no transport buses or other hire vehicles available,” said Arun Kumar, a native of Palluruthy.
The Kochi Metro operated as usual bringing succour to the city residents. Volunteers of ‘Say No to Hartal’ too offered some respite to passengers reaching the two railway stations in the city. “We deployed 25 volunteers with cars at the south and town railway stations and operated to places like Kakkanad, Kalamassery, Aluva, Palluruthy, Mattancherry, Fort Kochi and Tripunithura among others,” said Mr Raju P. Nair, general convener.
Earlier, UDF activists led by Mr Ramesh Chennithala held a bullock cart rally from KPCC junction to High Court junction to protest the fuel price hike by the centre. He also charged the state government with not supporting the demand to bring fuel under the Goods and Service Tax foregoing the increased tax revenues.
Shops closed forcibly in city
A group of traders opened their shops at MG Road protesting “frequent” holding of hartals but was forced by activists to down shutters.
“The recent floods have severely affected our businesses with hardly any purchases during the Onam festival. The stocks are yet to be sold out. Hence we decided to operate as a protest against such frequent holding of hartals,” said Rajesh Nair, Convenor, MG Road Merchants’ Association.
Close to 40 shops including the likes of ‘Raymonds’ and Padma Theatre opened at 9 am. However, some Congress and CPM activists turned up and issued warnings. When the shops continued to function, nearly 60 people turned up and forcefully closed all the shops.
“One has the right to not participate similar to that of political parties to protest or hold hartals. We’re not against anybody but we want to survive..It’s our bread and butter,” Nair said.
The traders pointed out that they had sought police protection in advance but only a few personnel were deployed.
A few Industrialists like Kochouseph Chittilappilly too came out in open against protests like hartal. “Certainly, in a democracy, protest against injustice and issues affecting common people is a must. However, stalling the normal life of common people is not the right way to do it, while the upper crust in society, including politicians who call for hartals, go unaffected,” Chittilapilly said.
Meanwhile, most shops at Vazhakulam village near Muvattupuzha, which usually function on hartal days, remained closed on Monday.
“Usually we don’t down shutters during hartal days after the rival political parties agreed to the demand of pineapple merchants. However, this time we didn’t open the shops as the protest was being carried out against the fuel hike, which affects all sections of society,” said Jose Perumbillikkunnel, a member of Vazhakulam Merchants’ Association.
