Kerala to witness hartal-like situation on February 12; shops, markets will remain closed

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A 24-hour nationwide strike scheduled for February 12 will be fully observed in Kerala, the Joint Trade Union has announced. However, Sabarimala pilgrims and the Maramon Convention have been exempted from the strike. The protest has been called, demanding the withdrawal of what unions describe as anti-worker labour codes and the restoration of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), among other demands. Trade union leaders said Kerala would come to a complete standstill during the strike.

All services except milk supply, newspapers, hospitals, medical shops, ambulances and essential hospital services will be suspended. Malls and Special Economic Zones (SEZs) will also be part of the strike. The industrial, agricultural, commercial and trade sectors are expected to be fully affected. Shops and markets will remain closed, and vehicles will not operate on the roads. Trade union leaders said workers from all sectors would participate in the strike.

The Samyukt Kisan Morcha, agricultural workers’ organisations, and political parties, including the CPM and CP,I have extended support to the strike. Leaders also said that state government employees, teachers’ organisations, and employees in the banking, insurance, defence, railway, port and aviation sectors, along with contract workers, would back the protest. However, the NGO Sangh has decided to stay away from the strike.