LDF hartal total in Kerala

The dawn to dusk hartal called by CPI(M)-led LDF Opposition to protest against the violence in the Kerala Assembly on budget presentation day hit normal life today but was by and large peaceful, except for some stray incidents of stone throwing.
While Chief Minister Oommen Chandy charged the hartal was organised as a cover up to hide yet another failure of the Opposition to take on the ruling front, CPI(M) state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan thanked the people for making the hartal a "huge success".
Public transport, including Kerala State Road Transport Corporation services and private buses, autorickshaws and taxis remained off the roads in most places throughout the state making life difficult for commuters.

According to police, sporadic incidents of violence, including stone pelting on buses, were reported in some parts of the state.
A Tamil Nadu registered lorry carrying cargo and a tourist bus with students were pelted with stones in Kozhikode district.
KSRTC buses were stoned in Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam after which they stopped services, they said.

Police also helped patients to go to hospitals for treatment in many places.
The state Assembly witnessed unruly scenes on the budget presentation day yesterday as ruling and opposition members engaged in a scuffle over presentation of state budget by Finance Minister K M Mani, who is facing bribery allegations in the bar scam, which shook the state recently.

Though the opposition members, who tried to prevent Mani, vandalised the the speakers' podium, Mani managed to present his record 13th budget.
To protest against the violence incidents in the Assembly, ruling front UDF is observing a 'black day' tomorrow.