Kerala: The United Democratic Front (UDF) has called for a hartal in Kerala on October 13 in protest against what it calls the anti-people policies of the State and Central governments. The hartal will be from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Announcing the decision on Wednesday, Opposition Leader in the Assembly Ramesh Chennithala said that the UDF was constrained to go for the hartal as the governments have tested the people beyond a level they could bear.

Mr. Chennithala said that prices of goods, particularly that of petrol-diesel and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), has touched an all-time high under the BJP and LDF governments. Law and order in State had plunged to an all-time low, he said. The State and Central governments have messed up the GST, forcing the people to bear the brunt, he added.