BJP-sponsored hartal in Kerala today

Fuel price hike has dealt a heavy blow to KSRTC
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala is bracing itself for a second blow within 30 hours of receiving the first in the form of a hike in the price of petrol and diesel. It has come in the form of a hartal, road transport workers' strike and suspension of private bus services all rolled into one to protest against the hike in fuel price.

The BJP has called for a State-wide hartal from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Wednesday in protest against the Union Government's decision to increase the prices of diesel and petrol.

At a press conference here on Tuesday, BJP State general secretary P.K. Krishnadas said the hartal was also to press the State Government to reduce the rates of sales tax on diesel and petrol so that the prices the consumers had to pay for these products could be brought down.

He urged all traders to cooperate by keeping their shops shut. Milk supply, newspaper distribution and hospitals would be exempted. The hartal would be peaceful, he said.

Mr. Krishnadas said both the Congress and the Left parties were equally responsible for taking the price of fuel beyond the means of the common consumers. The latest was the fourth hike since the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) had come to power at the Centre. The Left parties should stop propping up the UPA Government if they seriously objected to the decision. Mr. Krishnadas said it was well within the powers of the State Government to prevent the latest hike in fuel prices from affecting the consumers. The hike effected could be compensated if the State Government were to bring down the rates of sales tax on diesel and petrol from the existing high level to, say, 12 per cent, he said.

Vehicle strike

The impact will be felt more owing to the protest being organised on Wednesday by bus operators and the road transport workers. The All India Road Transport Workers Federation has called for a strike in the State as part of the countrywide protest being organised by it against the hiking of the price of petrol and diesel. Its general secretary, K.K. Divakaran, described the hike as a "heavy burden which neither the industry nor the common man can bear."