The Left Democratic Front (LDF) has called for a hartal in Idukki district on January 9, when Governor Arif Mohammed Khan is scheduled to inaugurate a welfare scheme of the Kerala Vyapari Vyavasayi Ekopana Samiti (KVVES) at Thodupuzha. According to the LDF leaders, the hartal is in protest against the Governor not signing the Kerala Government Land Assignment (Amendment) Bill passed in the Assembly in September last year.
KVVES district president Sunny Paimbillil said that there was no political angle to the Governor’s visit to Idukki. “We contacted Raj Bhavan for the programme in November first week and expected a date in December second week. But on January 2, Raj Bhavan allotted a date to us on January 9,” he said.