CM Vijayan defends strikes amid business concerns in Kerala

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: (Feb 13) Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Friday said strikes would continue in the state, amid concerns from the business community over the total shutdown experienced a day earlier during the all-India strike called by trade unions against the Centre’s alleged anti-labour policies.

The veteran CPI(M) leader was responding to a question from the audience about the paralysing nationwide strike in Kerala, raised by a businessman during an interaction at a Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Southern Regional Council meeting here.

"Yesterday's (Thursday) thing will continue. Because it was such a hard thing that happened. The government of India's labour codes affect all workers adversely. That is why an all India strike was called, and in such a strike, Kerala will be in the forefront, that is the normal practice," Vijayan said with a smiling face.