Fuel price hike, faulty GST: UDF calls for hartal in Kerala on October 13

Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala said the protest is against the Centre's frequent hike in prices of petroleum products Pointing out drawbacks in the implementation of GST, Chennithala alleged​ the price of all essential commodities have gone up Chennithala stressed the LDF ministers are not taking any steps to ease the people's hardships caused by the fuel price hike

The Congress in Kerala has called for a hartal on October 13 to protest the petrol price hike and the "anti-people policies" of both the Centre and state governments.

At a press conference in Malappuram on Wednesday, Opposition leader and UDF chairman Ramesh Chennithala said the protest is against the Centre's frequent hike in prices of petroleum products and the drawbacks in the implementation of GST.

Also attacking the state government, Chennithala stressed that the LDF ministers and CPM leaders are not taking any steps to ease the people's hardships caused by the fuel price increase. 

The price of all essential commodities have gone up, Chennithala alleged and said it has become difficult to have food from hotels and restaurants. "Hartal has been called as life has become difficult in Kerala," PTI quoted the Congress leader as saying.

Referring to the hartal, in Ernakulam district, Chennithala said it will be only till 3 pm in view of the FIFA U-17 World Cup. Instructions have been given to ensure that spectators were not disturbed, he added.

Taking a dig at state finance minister Thomas Isaac, who had welcomed GST at the time of implementation, Chennithala said, "Isaac was one of the persons who had hailed the GST even more than Union finance minister Arun Jaitley. Now he should explain to the people about the rise in prices of food and other goods."