THIRUVNANANTHAPURAM: The trade, tourist and business activities were affected following a shutdown called by the People’s Action Council led by Kerala Vyapari-Vyavasayi Ekopana Samithi in Munnar on Monday. The strike was observed from 4 p.m. onwards to protest against the alleged attempt by media and various quarters to portray the local people as encroachers. The committee leaders alleged that the continuous reports about encroachments in Munnar were seriously affecting business and tourist activities in the hill station.
The hotel industry was also hit because of the adverse campaign which has sent a wrong message at the national and international level. Though there are encroachments everywhere in Idukki district, the focus seems to be only on Munnar which is being depicted as the hotspot of illegal occupation of government land. Various religious groups, traders’ organisations and political parties have backed the agitation. Meanwhile, it is believed that the strike in Munnar might end up diverting the attention from largescale encroachments in the hill station and Idukki district as a whole. It may also push the alleged Tata encroachments to the background.
Tata land had come into sharp focus last week following the spat between veteran CPM leader V.S. Achuthanandan and Power Minister M.M. Mani. The minister had accused VS of forgetting Tata encroachment while latter asked the LDF government to act immediately. CPI state secretary Kanam Rajendran said he did not believe the agitation in Munnar was against the ruling LDF. Interestingly, the agitation comes a day after the CPM state secretariat iterated its support for Idukki district unit on Munnar issues and hoped that people will not get carried away by propaganda.
