In Kerala, the dawn to dusk strike by left supported motor vehicle associations against the price rise of petrol and diesel, in effect turned out to a hartal. <br/><br/>Putting the general public to great inconvenience taxis, auto rickshws and even the state road transport buses remained off the road. Educational institutions also remained closed across the state.<br/><br/>AIR correspondent R.K. Pillai reports from Thiruvananthapuram that as usual the general public were on the receiving end. The one day strike called by motor vehicle associations having affilation with left parties paralysed life in Kerala today from dawn to dusk. <br/><br/>Even schools and colleges remained closed due to the strike. Making matters worse the state owned road transport corporation shied away from plying buses. <br/><br/>Protesting against the increase in petroleum prices, the strikers damaged tourist buses in some places. The tough time for the public further increased as shop owners also downed shutters in almost all places.<br/><br/>