To open shop or not: traders in dilemma

Closed shops at a local market in Mirik on Thursday. Picture by Passang Yolmo

TT, Calcutta, Sept. 7: Traders in Mirik today did not open their shops and protested being "kicked like a football", a couple of days after lifting their shutters in defiance of the strike.

The traders alleged that they were "fed up" as one group was telling them to open the shops, while another was telling them to keep them closed.

On Monday, Trinamul supporters had brought out a peace rally in Mirik and had appealed to the local residents to bring back normality in the area.

On Tuesday, around 40 per cent of the business establishments in the tourist town opened their shutters after nearly three months of shutdown.

"However, today, the traders decided not to open their shops for the time being to protest against being kicked like a football between two parties," a local said.

The traders refused to speak out on who were forcing them to close their establishments.

"We are businessmen and this is the worst situation for us. One group, along with police, comes to the street and asks us to open shops. Another group wants us to keep them closed. We are facing the brunt for no fault of ours," a trader was heard telling a resident in Mirik, adding that assurances from the police could bring about "a secure feeling in the present situation of the hills".

The traders have decided not just to shut their establishments but to also not sell anything through the backdoor.

"We will not sell anything through the backdoor. So far, despite the shutdown, we were providing essential items to locals through the backdoor. We will put an end to this," a trader said.

The indefinite shutdown that started from June 15 has seen complete closure of the hills but neighbourhood shops have been supplying essentials to people through backdoor.

"This is why, despite the strike entering the 85th day today, people are still getting essentials even though there is much hardship in the hills," said a local.

Apart from some pockets, most places in the hills are closed.

Bimal Gurung today said the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha could think about lifting the strike only if "talks on Gorkhaland are initiated".

Many in the hills have echoed Gurung that unless there is something positive, the strike should not be withdrawn as the "prolonged sacrifice of hardship" faced by the hill people would go in vain.

But many hill residents have admitted in private that the shutdown is not the only option.

"Even after three months of shutdown, there has been no response from the Centre. It is time that the leaders explore other forms of protests than crippling life without any assurances. Let the elected representatives sit for an indefinite hunger strike in Delhi rather than just shutting the hills," suggested a Mirik resident.