Gurgaon Sanitation Workers Temporarily Halt Strike, Issue Arrest Ultimatum
Sanitation and sewer workers employed by the Municipal Corporation of Gurgaon (MCG) called off their three-day strike on Thursday, just one day after police registered a First Information Report (FIR) against Prashant Bhardwaj, the husband of Ward 33 councillor Sarika Bhardwaj. The workers resumed their duties after lunch but issued a stern warning: if Bhardwaj is not arrested by Monday, the protest will recommence with full force.
Protest Plans and Police Inaction
The workers, operating under the banner of the MCG Employees Union, Haryana, announced that all sanitation personnel would stage a demonstration outside the Gurgaon police commissioner's office on February 9 if no arrest is made. The FIR was filed on Wednesday against Prashant Bhardwaj, citing allegations of criminal intimidation and the use of casteist slurs directed at sanitation workers.
This legal action followed an incident on Monday where Bhardwaj allegedly threatened sanitation and sewer workers with physical violence. In response, MCG workers ceased work and assembled for three consecutive days at the old municipal corporation office, formally launching their strike on Tuesday.
Union Leaders Decry "Insufficient" FIR and "Political Pressure"
Union representatives emphasized that merely filing an FIR is "insufficient". They argued that the failure to arrest the accused despite serious charges points to "political pressure and administrative apathy". The FIR includes sections related to:
- Criminal intimidation
- Obstruction of government work
- Provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act
However, more than 24 hours after the FIR was registered, police had yet to make an arrest, a delay union leaders labeled a "gross injustice" to Dalit sanitation workers.
Suspension of Strike and Public Interest
Union president Basant Kumar convened a meeting on Thursday and declared that the strike was being suspended for only two days, solely in the interest of the general public. "Registering an FIR is not enough. The police administration failed to arrest the accused," Kumar stated, cautioning that continued inaction would compel workers to escalate their agitation.
The union further alleged that Bhardwaj has continued to openly threaten employees and union leaders on social media, mocking the police and undermining the rule of law. This ongoing behavior has intensified calls for immediate arrest and accountability.
