THODUPUZHA: While the LDF Idukki District Committee has announced a march to Raj Bhavan and a hartal in Idukki, Governor Arif Mohammed Khan will attend a program of the Kerala Vyapari Vyavasayi Ekopana Samithi (KVVES) on Tuesday. The LDF leaders have said that the hartal will be peaceful and no activist will stop the Governor.

The traders, who have made it clear that they will not back down from the program, have brought maximum KVVES workers to Thodupuzha. However, they will cooperate with the hartal by keeping the shops closed. The leadership said that they would not accept if the workers arriving on foot were stopped. Meanwhile, both UDF and BJP have rejected the hartal. The UDF, which accused the CPM of threatening the traders, said that it was ready to provide protection to the program.

The Governor is coming to Idukki to inaugurate the Karunyam Kudumba Suraksha scheme implemented by the KVVES. The program will be held at 11.30 am on Tuesday at Thodupuzha Merchants Trust Hall.

LDF had announced that it would hold the Raj Bhavan march on January 9 by mobilising tens of thousands from the district against the Governor's stance of not signing the land assignment amendment bill. Later, the Governor gave a date to participate in the program of the KVVES on the very same day. Following this, the LDF announced a hartal in Idukki district. On Monday, the Governor's effigy was burnt under the leadership of CPM in various towns in Idukki. Anticipating the possibility of a black flag protest, the police have deployed heavy security in Thodupuzha.