Kerala cable operators protest luxury tax; go on token strike

MUMBAI: Cable operators in Kerala went on a ‘6 am to 6 pm’ strike demanding rollback of the five per cent luxury tax proposed in the state budget for 2006-07.

“The strike paralysed the television viewing in Kerala during the day time. This was a token strike, and it is learnt that the Cable Operators’ Association is planning to meet the minister before planning its next move,” an executive of a leading Malayalam channel told indiantelevision.com.

News agency PTI reports that cable operators in all towns joined the strike, making it a dull and dreary day for television viewers. A spokesman of the Cable Operators’ Association has been quoted as saying that, the strike was a major success as big and small service providers joined in the protest.