Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan promised an all-party meeting that efforts will be made to avoid inconvenience to tourists on account of mass strike or hartals.
The gathering, chaired by Pinarayi, raised concern about frequent hartals that adversely affect the tourism industry. The participants agreed that sudden hartals, without notice, are sending a wrong message about the state. However, the meeting concluded that the state cannot avoid hartals altogether, but called for greater alertness.
As the chief minister promised action to protect tourists from hartals, all leaders of political parties who attended the meet pledged to support the government measures in this regard.
The meeting also decided to send a delegation to the Centre to seek a higher allocation of items sold through ration shops.
The meeting unanimously demanded that the Centre should allow a minimum 5 kg rice for all sections except the beneficiaries under Antyodaya Anna Yojana. It was pointed out that Kerala's ration share has dwindled significantly since the enactment of the National Food Security Act .
Top officials like chief secretary Paul Antony and police chief Loknath Behera also attended the meeting.
