“The GJAC withdrew the strike to “honour” the home minister’s request and to relieve the public. If these are the reasons, why did they take so long to decide? They should have withdrawn the bandh in the meeting held on September 6 itself,” said Gurung.
He also criticised the GJAC for announcing the two-day respite on September 9 and 10, saying, “If the strike was to be called off till October 20, what need was there to harass the public by announcing a two-day break? People stocked up rations by paying exorbitant prices as they thought the shutdown would continue.”
The People’s Forum secretary further said the salary of government employees, which the government has threatened to cut, must be reimbursed by the GJM. He went on to allege that as the Pujas are approaching, the strike has been called off to enable the passage of bills from various departments due to contractors, claiming the GJM leadership gets commission from the contractors.
“The public has sacrificed a lot. Telephone, electricity bills and other taxes pertaining to the previous agitation period are still being borne by the public,” said Gurung, adding, “The leadership must explain to the public what has been achieved by a month-long movement during which the common people were the ones who suffered tremendous hardships.”
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