Large number of shops open for business on second day of strike in Kochi

The trading community alleged the strike supporters allowed big business houses to remain open while thousands of small traders and businesses were forced to close.

About seventy per cent of the shops on Broadway in the heart of Kochi opened for business on Tuesday, the second day of a national strike.

Shops, trading houses, hoteliers and distributors had said they would open for business on Tuesday. The shops and business establishments had remained closed on Monday, the first day of the strike.

Broadway is the hub of trading activity in Kochi where products ranging from hardware and paints to textiles are sold.

K. M. Mohammed Sageer, President of Kerala Merchant Chamber of Commerce said most of the shops on the Jews Street and Gopala Prabhu Road had opened for business as usual.

However the wholesale vegetables market has been hit as supplies had not been replenished over the last two days with truck load movements being affected, he added. At the same time, sale of provisions like rice, lentils, and onions had been brisk after the shops opened around 10 a.m.

Shops and eateries in other parts of Kochi too opened on Tuesday but not in such large numbers as on Broadway.

The trading community alleged the strike supporters allowed big business houses to remain open while thousands of small traders and businesses were forced to close.