We lack proper institution to pursue statehood issue: Mahendra P Lama

Noted academician, social worker and consensual candidate from Darjeeling for the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, Mahendra P Lama, today poured out his thoughts on the Gorkhaland state demand even as he rued the failure of political parties here to incorporate a proper institution, process and  system to take forward the statehood movement.

Speaking at a press conference in Darjeeling on Sunday evening, the MP aspirant advised the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha leadership to scrap the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration agreement, but prior to that, to pass a resolution for a separate state in the Sabha.

“Political parties must have their priorities set clearly. Darjeeling today is in a total state of confusion. If we really want to see the formation of a Gorkhaland state, we must let go of the GTA and come forward with a comprehensive plan,” said Lama, the pro-vice chancellor of the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU).

The academician is also the founding vice-chancellor of the Sikkim University that was established in 2007 and a member of the central government’s National Security Advisory Board. Besides, he has had a long association with the Jawaharlal Nehru University as a faculty member and is the chairman of the Centre for South, Central, South-East Asian and South West Pacific Studies.

Pointing out the path to take the separate statehood demand forward, Lama said the real fight is with the central government and not the state.

“We must realise that all bills, norms and amendments are deliberated by Parliament and the Cabinet. This means that a strong and permanently effective way to press for separate statehood is to address Parliament and this can be done by representing our case in the proper manner,” he asserted.

Commenting on last month’s bandh called by the GJM, Lama remarked, “What did we achieve in the 40-odd days of strike… or for that matter, from the 234 days’ bandh over the last 20-23 years? We must make a conscious effort to convince parliamentarians in New Delhi. We need to have them creating a furore in the corridors of power with the issue of the Gorkhaland demand, but sadly, this is not the case.”

Stressing on the need to adopt broader thinking and inclusiveness in order to make the central government sit up and take notice, Lama said a Darjeeling district inclusive of the Dooars would be a comprehensive demand.

He said, “We made a blunder when we failed to respect the aspirations, feelings and demands of the people of the Dooars.

“We can also demand that the Darjeeling hills be brought under the North Eastern Council, which will have its own benefits. For one, we will enjoy constitutional safeguard, which is a must. Under such a scenario, the Darjeeling hills will become a de-facto state. Importantly, being hemmed on four sides by international borders, we will have a strong case regarding the aspect of national security. Meanwhile, the economic benefit we will be entitled to is to come as a 10 per cent fund allocation from the Union government budget.”

The academician, who has refused to affiliate himself with any political party till he is elected as MP, also commented on the spree of arrests of GJM activist and leaders.

He said, “The arrests are political and have to be tackled accordingly. The GJM should have foreseen this and taken measures in advance to deal with the situation. This is where my observation comes in: we are lacking in an efficient institution, process and system,” while pointing out that a win-win case can be taken up either in the high court or the Supreme Court.

Echoing similar sentiments, Darjeeling Civil Society president BK Pradhan said, “We need people with vision and a proper thought process to take the statehood demand to its right end.

This is why we have persuaded Mr. Lama to take the initiative, by becoming an MP at the outset. We honour and respect his vision and will follow him.”(EOI)

Anti-strike voice in hills

Darjeeling, Sept. 22: Mahendra P. Lama, who had announced his plan to contest the next Lok Sabha election from Darjeeling as an Independent, today advised the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha and other parties in the hills to refrain from calling general strikes and involving students in the agitation for Gorkhaland.

“In the past 27 years, the hills have been closed for 234 days but time has come to start to rethink the strategy. We have to pinch where it hurts the most and if our decision is only hurting us and not where we intent to, then it is definitely time to rethink strategies,” Lama, the pro vice-chancellor of Indira Gandhi National Open University, told the media here.

The educationist also spoke against the involvement of students in the agitation. “I don’t support the participation of students in the statehood movement. It will have a bearing on the society for the next 25 years. Our objective should be to encourage students to go in for higher studies, make a mark in their lives and teach them to be competitive. Education is the only path towards success,” said Lama.

The Morcha has actively involved the students in the latest round of agitation that began on July 29.

Lama said he wouldn’t be affiliated to any political party.(TT)