The 48-hour long nationwide strike called by the joint committee of trade unions have turned the life upside down for the people, especially for Keralites. We have been suffering the aftermath of hartals and strikes for the past some times. The public have been raising many questions regarding the strike - why was the strike extended for two days? Why are they making life miserable for the public? The trade unions may have clear cut answers for the same. They have also said that they have called for a strike and not for a hartal. If so, why are they forcefully closing down the shops and blocking the trains and other vehicles. Then what is the difference between a hartal and a strike? Nammalariyanam.