Kerala's Culinary Shutdown: Protests Over LPG Price Hike

The Kerala Hotel and Restaurant Association has declared a statewide strike on May 6 to protest a significant hike in commercial LPG cylinder prices. The strike will witness the closure of hotels and restaurants in Kerala, with district-level marches and sit-ins against oil companies for the price surge.

In reaction to the recent hike in commercial LPG cylinder prices, the Kerala Hotel and Restaurant Association has declared a statewide strike set for May 6. The announcement comes following a Rs 993 increase per cylinder, marking a Rs 1,498 rise over five months.

G Jayapal, KHRA's state president, criticized the price hike as 'unfair' and confirmed that hotels and restaurants across Kerala will close in protest. This strike aims to bring attention to the struggles faced by the food production and distribution sectors under current economic pressures.

N Abdul Razak, KHRA general secretary, announced plans for protest marches and dharnas in front of district headquarters and oil company offices. The opposition, including the Congress and CPI(M), has also voiced criticism against the price changes announced by oil companies on Friday.