Daijiworld Media Network - Thiruvananthapuram

Thiruvananthapuram, May 5: Hotels, restaurants, bakeries, and canteens across Kerala will remain closed for 24 hours on May 6 as part of a statewide protest against the sharp increase in cooking gas prices, the Kerala Hotel and Restaurant Association announced on Tuesday.

The shutdown will also impact online food delivery services, which are set to be suspended for the day in solidarity with the agitation.

The protest has been organised to demand a rollback of the recent LPG price hike, which industry members say has significantly increased operational costs.

As part of the demonstration, protest marches and dharnas will be staged in front of offices of petroleum companies and central government institutions across the state.

In Ernakulam, a key protest will take place outside the Indian Oil Corporation office at Panampilly Nagar. The dharna will be inaugurated by KHRA state president G Jayapal.

Similar demonstrations are planned at district headquarters throughout Kerala.

The shutdown has received backing from several trade bodies, including the Kerala Vyapari Vyavasayi Ekopana Samithi, Kerala Vyapari Vyavasayi Samithi, All Kerala Caterers Association, and the Hostel Owners Federation, amplifying the scale of the protest.