KOLLAM: Kollam DCC president Bindu Krishna and her supporters tried hard to make the UDF hartal a success by blocking public transport and forcing the closure of shops and offices here on Monday. They seemed to be unaware of opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala’s statement that the hartal would be peaceful. The KSRTC buses operated till 9 a.m. when Bindu Krishna along with DCC general secretary Krishnaveni G. Sharma and others protested in front of KSRTC buses that plied through the link road at Ashramam, leaving the commuters at the receiving end.
Bindu Krishna, who exhorted her fellow workers “not to let a single vehicle on the road,” was seen riding pillion on her friend’s motorcycle to her home. The Congress workers also blocked KSRTC buses and private vehicles at various parts of the district, including Keralapuram, Chandanathope, and Kavanad. The majority of shops and restaurants remained closed though the Vyapari- Vyavasayi Ekopana Samiti had announced that it would not cooperate with the hartal.The SBI’s branch functioning at Bishop Jerome Nagar here was also shut down. Two-wheelers were arranged by tour operators for tourists who had reached the district.
