Hill shops open but sales low

Darjeeling's Chowk Bazar after the withdrawal of the strike on Wednesday. TELEGRAPH PICTURE

TT, Calcutta, Sept. 27: Darjeeling limped back to normal today after a 104-day crippling shutdown but the usual vibrancy in the run-up to Dashain, one of the most important festivals in the region, was missing.

"There is very little sale. People don't have money to spend. Many had to buy stuff at a higher rate during the strike," said a grocery shop owner at Chowk Bazar.

Gorkha Janmukti Morcha leader Bimal Gurung had yesterday said the strike in the hills would be called off at 6am on Wednesday, a few hours after Union home minister Rajnath Singh announced a meeting within a fortnight to "discuss all related issues".

But the strike's impact on the economy was evident. Tea garden workers have gone without wages for three months and even government employees, such as schoolteachers, have not received their salaries since July.

Those whose salaries have been credited are finding it difficult to withdraw money as banks have closed for the festival.

The lack of liquid cash was visible across Darjeeling town. "People were mostly buying new dresses only for their children. This is a clear reflection of the lack of cash in hill houses," said another trader.

The situation was similar in Kurseong, Mirik and other places in the hills, including in Kalimpong district.

Most business establishments were open today in Darjeeling, though a few preferred to keep their shutters down because of lack of preparedness, and traffic was slightly less than what is usual for "normal times".

"Many taxis did not ply today because the strike withdrawal announcement was made pretty late. However, one of the major reasons for less traffic was that most petrol pumps are dry and they are expected to tank up only late this evening," said a transporter in Darjeeling town.

Liquor shops, closed following a government order issued on June 9, remained shut as the directive has not been revoked.

The most talked-about topic in the hills was the withdrawal of the strike that had been called to press for a Gorkhaland state. While many felt the strike had been called off without any concrete assurances from the Centre, thus bringing to nought "people's sacrifices", many said there was little option but to lift the shutdown.

"The appeal letter (of the Union home minister) is very vague," said Amar Lama, bureau member, Jana Andolan Party (JAP). "There is only a mention of official-level talks and not tripartite talks involving political parties. Nevertheless, if a political-level meeting is held, we will request the Union home minister to invite all political parties for talks."

The JAP, sources said, will be writing to the home ministry soon.

In his appeal from New Delhi yesterday afternoon, Rajnath had said dialogue was the only way out to resolve any problem in a democracy.

Prakash Gurung, president, Gorkha Janmukti Yuwa Morcha, said the strike had been withdrawn in public interest and also because the Centre had been forced to sit for talks.

"We, however, protest against the state government's decision to revive the GTA (Gorkhaland Territorial Administration). We also condemn the continuous police atrocities on our supporters and people. Such acts by the police could vitiate the peaceful situation in the hills," Prakash Gurung said.

The Morcha youth chief also alleged that rebel Morcha leaders Binay Tamang and Anit Thapa were trying to persuade Bimal Gurung's supporters to join their camp by promising to withdraw police cases against them.

Thapa responded, saying: "These people have nothing to do but to stay in the jungle and make false allegations."