Strike total in Ker,business as usual in other southern states

The nationwide strike called by trade unions pressing for a charter of demands, besides protesting Centre's "anti-people" policies, remained total in Kerala while it was largely business as usual in other southern states.

The central trade unions organised the protest against labour reforms, FDI, disinvestment, corporatisation and privatisation policies of the government.

The demands included minimum wage and social security for the working class.

In left-ruled Kerala, the strike was total and normal life affected, with public transport services keeping off the roads and banking services hit.

A houseboat carrying Nobel laureate Michael Levitt and his wife in the backwaters of Alappuzha was blocked for sometime by trade union activists.

Reacting to the incident, State Tourism minister Kadakampally Surendran said: "We will take strong action against those anti-social elements who blocked the boat.

Levitt was here as a state government guest. We will also look into whether there were any lapses in providing security to him."