Shutdown in Kerala to protest fuel price hikes

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - Normal life was hit Tuesday in Kerala as the state woke up to a shutdown called by the workers of the Motor Vehicle Coordination Committee of the Left parties and the Bharatiya Janata Party to protest the hike in petrol and diesel prices.

The shutdown was supported by the trade associations as businessmen pulled the shutters of their shops down.

Only private vehicles were plying on the roads and people were seen stranded at railway stations. Attendance in government offices was low as there was no public transport.

The buses were operating only in convoys in Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram, bringing the IT professionals to their workplaces.

The state education department and the state public service commission postponed all the examinations for the day.

Kerala saw 54 shutdowns last year, according to a website dedicated to the subject. In 2010 so far, there have been six local shutdowns and one statewide strike.