24-hour nationwide strike begins in state; Government declares dies non

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The 24-hour national strike led by trade unions has started demanding the withdrawal of the anti-people policies of the central government, including labor codes. The strike is from Wednesday midnight to Thursday midnight. The state is almost completely paralyzed as both the ruling and opposition organizations in the state are supporting the strike.

Essential services such as milk, newspapers, hospitals, medical stores, fire and rescue services, and ambulances have been exempted from the strike. The government has declared dies non to face the strike. Employees taking leave will not get today's salary.

Services are disrupted in most parts of the state due to the strike by the left and right-wing unions of KSRTC. Auto and taxi workers are also participating in the strike. The trade unions have requested to cooperate with the strike as much as possible as private vehicles are seen plying on the roads. Kerala, MG and Calicut universities have postponed the exams scheduled for Thursday.

CITU and INTUC are protesting separately. The INTUC is striking separately following the KPCC's directions that there should be no coordinated strike in the backdrop of the assembly elections. The Secretariat Action Council and KPSTA are not partaking in the strike. Meantime, in some places, pro-strike activists are blocking vehicles.