While hearing the petition, the court said, “Even a small-scale trader who has only an investment of Rs 5,000 cannot do business on a hartal day. The government has the responsibility to ensure normal life. People should get the confidence to venture out on a hartal day.”

But so inured is the state that the general reaction is one of acceptance rather than anger. Anwar Jahan Zuberi, Vice Chancellor of Calicut University, asked about how hartals had affected the schedule, said she would not react on this sensitive political issue. Said Kannur University VC P Chandramohan: “We are forced to postpone many exams as students would not be able to reach the exam centres for want of transport facility.”

Asked how the tourism industry — linked to Brand Kerala — is being crippled by hartals, state Tourism Secretary V Venu said he had no comments on the issue.

Not surprising, since if he had a comment, there could very well be a strike against it the next day.