Kerala hotels, restaurants to shut for 24 hours on May 6 over LPG price hike

KOCHI: The Kerala Hotel and Restaurant Association (KHRA) said on Tuesday that hotels, restaurants, bakeries and canteens across the state will shut for 24 hours on May 6 to protest against the sharp increase in cooking gas prices.Online food delivery services will also remain suspended during the shutdown as part of the statewide protest.The agitation has been organised to demand a rollback of the recent LPG price hike.According to KHRA, protest marches and dharnas will be held outside the offices of petroleum companies and central government establishments across the state.In Ernakulam, a dharna will take place in front of the Indian Oil Corporation office at Panampilly Nagar, and will be inaugurated by state president G Jayapal.Similar demonstrations are planned at district headquarters across Kerala.The association added that several trade bodies, including the Kerala Vyapari Vyavasayi Ekopana Samithi, Kerala Vyapari Vyavasayi Samithi, All Kerala Caterers Association and the Hostel Owners Federation, have extended their support to the protest.