Hotels, restaurants to remain closed on April 9

KOCHI: Hotels and restaurants in the district will remain closed on April 9 as part of a token strike called by the Kerala Hotel and Restaurant Association. Addressing a press conference, office-bearers of the association said that the strike was in protest against the move by oil companies to hike the price of cooking gas supplied to hotels. They said that the price of cooking gas cylinders has gone up by 112 per cent in one year with the prices jumping from Rs 800 last April to Rs 1,796. The cost of operation of small and medium hotels has increased manifold owing to the rise in the price of cooking gas cylinders. Small hotels face closure in the aftermath of twin blows of rising prices of essential items and cooking gas. The association said that unless the government intervened to find a solution, hotels and restaurants will have no other way but to close down indefinitely. The State executive meeting of the association will be held on April 19 while the State meet will be held at Rajendra Maidan on April 22. Association State general secretary Jose Mohan, State secretary Rafeek, district president K.M. Abdulla, and district secretary Azeez attended the press meet.