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‘Sabarimala Hartal’ Picks Up Steam In Kerala; Shops Shut, Transport Affected
A view of Pathanamthitta district during a 24-hour shutdown, called by the Sabarimala Samrakshna Samiti on 18 October 2018. (Photo by Vivek Nair/Hindustan Times via Getty Images)
A hartal has been jointly organised by the Sabarimala Karma Samiti and the Hindu Aikya Vedi. Many, however, have no clue that the hartal has been declared and that the president of the Hindu Aikya Vedi, K P Sasikala, has been arrested.
The Hindu quoted M N Gopi of the Kerala BJP as saying, “Sangh Parivar organisations will be organising protest marches in all important towns in the district, including Aluva, Angamaly, Perumbavur and Kothamangalam among others. It will be a mix of ‘Namajapa procession’ and conventional protest marches.”
In the early hours of the day, private and public buses plied normally and fuel stations remained functional. But once the news of the hartal spread, buses were off the road, shops were shut and streets looked deserted.
Kerala state rural police have informed depots of the state transport buses to make sure that police protection for operations is ensured.
Very low turnout was recorded at the boat jetty that plies services between Kakkanad to Goshree islands, which is managed by the State Water Transport Department. Since the hartal has been called on a weekend, many IT sector companies and other private establishments remain unaffected as they are shut on weekends.
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