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12-hour hartal in state over fuel price hike

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala is set to face second hartal within ten days over the petroleum price hike, with the ruling CPM-led LDF announcing its decision to join the nationwide protest called by Left parties and its allies on July 5. But the CPM-led ruling Left Front in Tripura said it will not take part in the July 5 nationwide strike called by the entire opposition in protest against the fuel price hike, as the party had observed a shutdown on the issue on June 28. The Left Democratic Front had observed a hartal in Kerala on the same issue on June 26, which paralysed normal life across the state. The LDF state committee in a statement called upon the people to support the July 5 hartal in view of "seriousness" of the situation caused by steep hike in prices of petrol, diesel, kerosene and LPG prices. "It is important that Kerala also becomes part of the nationwide protest against the petroleum price hike, which amounted to a declaration of war on the people," the statement said. Terming the decision to increase petroleum product prices as "economic authoritarianism", CPM said the government had announced the "steep hike" on the 35th anniversary of Emergency which symbolised "political authoritarianism". "It is indeed an ominous sign. The Left Front in Tripua said it fully supports the July five strike which is in the interest of the people, however, it would not observe it as it had held a dawn to dusk strike on the same issue on June 28 which had been a success, a LF statement said. It would take out processions and hold street corner meetings on the day of the strike in the state, the statement said. The Tripura unit of the BJP, meanwhile, said it would observe the bandh on July 5 and appeal to the people for support, party sources said. Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan said that essential services will remain unaffected during the the nationwide bandh on July 5. The Left leaders have said they were in discussions with some other "secular opposition" parties to join the hartal, which will be held from 0600 hours to 1800 hours. However, there is no word from RJD, LJP and BSP so far on whether they would join this Bharat Bandh on July 5 or not. Yadav said CPM leader Prakash Karat and SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav were talking to RJD supremo Lalu Prasad and LJP chief Ram Vilas Paswan over the issue

                                                                                                               
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