Kochi: A Kerala court has directed leaders of BJP and the CPI(M) led Left Democratic Front (LDF) to pay Rs 3,700 as compensation to a small-scale industrialist at nearby Kalamassery, who was prevented from opening his establishment on a strike day in September 2011.
The order in this regard was passed by the Ernakulam Munisiff Court here yesterday on a petition by George John, who runs a unit manufacturing goods for the flooring industry.
The LDF and BJP had called for a `hartal` on September 19, 2011. Despite the call, the petitioner said he and his employees were willing to work, which was not allowed by the activists of the front and the BJP.
The petitioner and his employees thus suffered loss of daily wages and income totalling Rs 3,700, it was submitted.
Though LDF Convenor Vaikom Viswan and BJP State President V Muraleedharan were issued summons to appear, they did not turn up before the court.
Viswan and Muraleedharan have been asked to pay the amount with 12 per cent interest.
PTI