Kasargod: Call for strike seeking CM's resignation gets total support

Stephan Kayyar
Daijiworld Media Network – Kasargod (SP)

Kasargod, Jul 11: The call for statewide hartal (general strike) given by the left front led by CPM on Wednesday July 10 proved to be highly successful. The normal life of the people was thrown out of gear and people who came here from various destinations had to suffer a lot for lack of transportation and closure of hotels.

Left front parties have been demanding the scalp of chief minister, Oommen Chandy, alleging that he was directly involved with irregularities that are now popularly known with the term, ‘solar scam’.

The strike, which was observed between 6 am and 6 pm, was peaceful. Government and private buses did not ply, while shops, hotels, and other establishments barring government offices functioned normally. In government offices, the attendance was thin on account of lack of transport, and roads wore a deserted look.

Only two wheelers and light vehicles were seen moving in district roads. The Manjeshwar Mandal Committee of the left front took out a protest procession at Hosangady, asking the chief minister to step down and face court trial. Leaders like B V Rajan, M Sanjeeva Shetty, Ramakrishna Kadambar and Srinivas Bhandary led the procession. Such processions were also organized at Perla and Mulleriya.

Supporters of strike call had created traffic blocks at various places including Cherkala, Gadigudde, Arladka, Karadka, Karmantody etc. Perla was partially affected by the strike call, and vehicles including some private buses moved between Panaje and Puttur via Adyadka and Vittal. The people could not resume normal life at places like Badiyadka, Mulleriya, Kumble, Uppal, Manjeshwar, Bovikkana, Kanhangad etc, which usually see lot of activity.

In the meanwhile, the police force has stepped up security for the chief minister with the inclusion of two escort vehicles with striking force pesonnel. The left front in the meanwhile, said that its leaders and legislators will sit in dharna in front of the secretariat at Thiruvananthapuram from July 22 onwards, and that indefinite dharna will be held at the state capital and all the district headquarters with effect from July 24, if the chief minister remains stubborn on his decision of continuing in that post.