Kochi: Traders in many parts of the state decided to resist hartals after frequent shutdowns crippled business and made people's lives miserable. The latest to join in the move to defy hartals is the film industry.

The Kerala Film Chamber of Commerce has decided to keep theatres open on hartal days. Filming and allied work will not be shelved on hartal days.

Chamber president K Vijayakumar and secretary Saga Appachan said the industry is facing heavy loss during hartal days. The fraternity comprises film producers, distributors and theatre owners.

Traders to meet tomorrow

The Kerala Vyapari-Vyavasayi Ekopana Samiti, which coordinates merchants and entrepreneurs, have called a meeting of 32 organisations in Kozhikode on Thursday. The Samiti had decided the other day not to cooperate with flash hartals.

At the busy Chalai Bazaar in Thiruvananthapuram, the trading community has decided to resist hartals. And in Kochi, textile dealers had taken a decision to keep their outlets open on hartal days.

No hartal in Bathery

Merchants at the Sultan Bathery markets have announced they will definitely open their shops in defiance of hartal calls irrespective of the organisation that gives the call. All merchants will join to defy the hartal.

The decision was taken by the Bathery Merchants Association, which is a unit of the Kerala Vyapari-Vyavasayi Ekopana Samiti. In case anyone uses force to close the shops, their photos will be taken and presented in courts. If any shop is damaged, the organisation will take care of it.

Idukki town bans hartal

The entire merchant community in Venmani, Idukki, led by its association, has decided not to shutter any shop in response to hartal calls. The decision has the full backing of the local people. 'No hartal, Venmani' boards have sprung up in the entire town.

The small town, located in the Kanjikuzhi panchayat of Idukki, has decided to resist attempts to force a hartal, however mighty the party is. The town will stick together to defeat hartals.

The town will use a High Court order to call for police help if necessary.