THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Describing the proposed dawn-to-dusk hartal of the Opposition UDF on Monday as ‘unavoidable’ and one intended to give vent to the people’s ire and protest against the anti-people policies of the Centre and state governments, Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala expressed high hopes that it would attract support in a big way.
While the High Court is keeping a watch, he also affirmed that the UDF hartal would be quite different from those hartals and bandhs witnessed in the state earlier,as it would be totally violence-free and will be drawing strength from the voluntary support of the masses,to join hands for highlighting teething livelihood issues .
“The hartal will be peaceful by all means. Rallies will be held across the state. UDF cadre would thwart any attempt of anti-socials to indulge in destruction of public or private properties. Movement of people will not be obstructed in any manner either,’’ he promised,while appealing for the support of the people,in an article released to the press,to fan out the message that the Congress-led Opposition is throwing down the gauntlet in the fight against the anti-people policies of the BJP led government of Narendra Modi at the Centre and the Pinarayi Vijayan-led state government in the state.
‘’A hartal has become inevitable as the miseries of the people have become manifold due to the policies of the state and Central governments,’’ he said.’’It is not like the usual hartals announced spontaneously by different groups. For highlighting genuine issues of concern, the stir was announced ten days in advance,’’he said.
‘’When governments remain blind and deaf to the miseries of people, the duty of those believing in democracy is to line up and build a strong opposition to the anti-people policies. The hartal will bugle a people’s defence against the Narendra Modi Government and also broadbasing all like-minded forces against the state government’s ineptitude, zero development drive and protecting law violators, including a minister,’’ Ramesh said.