There is no chance, that is for sure. Still. it has to be said. The national leadership of the union that has called for nation strike on January 8 and 9 should show the mercy to exempt Kerala from strike in one of these two days.

This is because Kerala is yet to free itself from the impact of the violent January 2 hartal. It is not because of anything else.
The exhaustion may be complete if Jan 8 and 9 also turn into a strong hartal in Kerala.

Netas may argue that nothing can be done since every preparation are already over for the two days’ hartal. But if they wish, this can be reduced to a one-day affair. They will also get the desired effect of a two-day strike through this one day shut-down. This is because only in Kerala will the national strike be a complete success. Usually hartal has a very little impact on other states.

Whereas in Kerala, hartal paralyses life, inconveniencing the common people.

Many programmes can be postponed as the dates were announced in advance but for travellers the hartal will bring hassles. Usually trains are not affected by hartals but this time there are plans to block trains too. Air flights are lucky since protestors can’t reach its air path.

Trade union leaders are known to have given instructions not to disturb Sabarimala pilgrimage. But it seems impractical. The nationwide two-day strike has been declared to protest against the Centre’s alleged anti-labour policies.

The call for strike is not only aimed at labours in different sectors but also at banks, financial instituions, school and colleges. Though the merchants association had decided to open their shops during hartal days, the bad memories of recent hartal would give them the confidence to open their shops.

It is also not practical for the police to give protection to all shops from hartal supporters. All trade unions except BJP unions will be taking part in the strike and hence even wayside vendors will face the effects of the strike.

Now, coming to the national strike, the organisers are not unaware of the futility of striking against Modi in the eleventh hour since Lok Sabha election is just four months away.

What is needed is not general strike but campaigns to inform people about the bad effects of Centre’s policies and persuade them to think in a different way. Under such circumstances the best means to express people’s anger is voting.

What is imminent is that golden opportunity.

Kerala, which is yet to come out of the miseries left behind by deluge, had to undergo seven hartals in the name of Sabarimala. After every hartal, the losses it inflicts on the people will be more than the losses during the previous hartal.

People those who have some sympathy for the hardships faced by the people, should try to keep away from the last form of protest means like national strike. But unfortunately, this has not been happening. The strike organisers should show the kind-heartedness to confine the strike to one day.