The separate hartals called for on Tuesday by the Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), protesting against the alleged neglect towards Alappuzha in the State Budget revised by Finance Minister K.M. Mani, were total.
The hartal called for by the LDF was from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m., while that called for by the BJP was from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.. Except for a couple of stone-throwing incidents, the day passed off peacefully, though normal life was thrown off-track for the public.
Stone throwing
While private vehicles were forced to keep off the road, KSRTC services that operated with police escort had sparse collections.
Stone-throwing incidents were reported from Thottappally and the nearby Matheri Junction, where one BJP activist was later taken into custody by the police. The State Water Transport Department's boat services in the Kuttanad region operated as usual, but a few of them were stopped by protestors at Kainakary and Nedumudi.
United Democratic Front (UDF) activists staged dharnas in front of panchayat offices at Punnapra and Ambalapuzha that had not opened on account of the hartal. Across the district, shops, schools and commercial establishments remained closed throughout the day. Tourists, who arrived in the district headquarters, left helpless with autorickshaws staying off the road and hotels remaining shut.
