The 24-hour nationwide general strike called by trade unions on Thursday against the central government’s policies brought life to a standstill in Kerala, with public transport largely crippled and shops and markets remaining closed.
The strike, supported by various trade unions to protest against the central government’s labour codes, halted transportation, closed businesses, and heavily impacted government offices. The state-run KSRTC and private buses remained off the roads, causing major inconvenience to commuters. Taxi and auto-rickshaw services were largely unavailable.
Markets and shops remained shut in most parts of the state. Educational institutions remained closed, while the government offices saw limited footfall of employees.
Essential services, including hospitals, pharmacies, milk distribution, and Kochi Metro services, remained operational to offer limited relief to the public.
The 24-hour strike was called by a joint forum of 10 central trade unions, including CITU, INTUC, and AITUC, to protest the Central Government’s new labour codes and farm policies
Meanwhile, Opposition leader V D Satheesan has called for a public debate on whether nationwide strikes should be observed as hartals or complete shutdowns in the state.
Satheesan asked whether a strike similar to a hartal and a bandh is being held in any other state in India other than Kerala, saying that it is a national strike.
Speaking to reporters in Kozhikode on Thursday, Satheesan said, “My question is: Is it appropriate in this age to turn a nationwide strike into a hartal or a bandh? I am not saying whether it is right or wrong, but I am placing it for a public discussion.”
He emphasised that people in other states are largely unaware of nationwide strikes, while in Kerala, strikes often halt normal life.
“There should be a public discussion, as only in Kerala does a strike become a hartal or bandh that brings normal life to a standstill. Whether this practice should continue must be discussed by the public,” he said.