E-Kantipur

BIRATNAGAR, MAR 22 - Workers living in Biratnagar Mill area are mourning the death of Girija Prasad Koirala, who had led a strike of workers in 1946 that helped reduce working hours to 8 from 12 and get one day leave every week.

Workers, who participated in the agitation, said Koirala was an ambitious and audacious person.

"I remember Girijababu addressing us during the strike when I was just 15," said Raghu Nath Prasad Gupta. "Girijababu used to work in the cotton mill and Manamohan Adhikari used to work in the chemical garage." According to him, Koirala was always determined to get any piece of committed work finished. Bisheshwar Prasad Koirala, the elder brother of the late charismatic leader had handled the movement.  Dharma Nanda Sanjel, trade union leader of Biratnagar Jute Mill, said workers are mourning Girijababu's death recalling the workers' movement.

"Stepping in the foundation of the movement, the country has become world's newest republic nation today," he said. Workers are able to enjoy their rights today due to the contributions of Girijababu and Manamohan.

Another mill worker Balaram Giri remembered Koirala as saying that he was a leader of workers.

"Koirala used to give high priority to his meetings with us whenever he knew that we had come from Biratnagar Jute Mills."  "He used to listen to us carefully and often he tried to solve our problems," he said. "Who will listen to us now?"

Posted on: 2010-03-22 12:00

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