KOCHI: The token strike called by Kerala Hotel and Restaurant Association (KHRA) against the hike in the price of commercial gas cylinders saw the majority of the eateries remaining shut here on Monday. “The price of commercial gas cylinders has gone up by more than 100 per cent since last year.In order to operate a hotel, we should also look at the price of the commodities, wages of the staff and many other aspects.If we increase the price of food items in accordance to all this, we would stop getting customers,” said Radhakrishnan K, manager of a restaurant near Chittoor Road.“Also, 95 per cent of our customers are regulars.We cannot exploit them by demanding atrocious prices for food.All that we demand is that the government should stop tormenting the middle-class like this,” he added.Tea stall owners too stated that the immense price hike is taking its toll on their business.“People who visit small tea stalls belong to the lower strata of society.If we increase the price of tea and snacks immensely, it will have adverse effects.The star hotels can afford to tax their customers as much as they wish and nobody raises a finger.When we increase the price of a cup of tea from Rs 5 to Rs 6, our customers question us,” said Shantha, who owns a tea stall near Krishnaswamy Road at Pullepady.However, the smaller eateries which remained open proved to be a haven for office-going Kochiites.“Since the majority of the hotels and restaurants remained closed, we saw a huge rush.Our restaurant serves only luncheons and the crowd was nearly twice the usual,” said K M Sadique, who runs a restaurant in Pullepady.“We also own a restaurant which opens in the evening and operates till late night.The crowd in the afternoons is much larger as many office-goers who do not carry lunch have no other option but eat out,” Sadique added.KHRA office-bearers stated that further decisions about the protests will be taken after the annual state committee meeting of the association on April 22.
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