Newly elected Darjeeling constituency
Lok Sabha member Surendra Singh Ahluwalia, who is also the
vice-president of the BJP, is all set to prepare a blueprint for the
all-round development of Darjeeling district and will soon present it to
the Narendra Modi government.
After winning by an unexpectedly huge
margin over his chief rival, Bhaichung Bhutia of the TMC, Ahluwalia
today interacted with the media in Siliguri before heading for New Delhi
via Patna.
He said, “I will now prepare a blueprint
for the all-round development of Darjeeling district and submit it to
the prime minister. I have separate development plans for the Naxalbari
region that has remained underdeveloped since the Naxalite movement.
Neither the Left Front government, nor the TMC one has worked for the
benefit of the underprivileged people of Naxalbari.”
When asked about the statehood demand by
the people of the Darjeeling hills, Ahluwalia said the matter needs to
be examined in detail, adding whatever Narendra Modi said during his
speech in Khaprail on April 10 would be fulfilled.
Ahluwalia also agreed to discuss with
the central government the proposal to set up a separate tea ministry as
the tea industry is the only sector in Bengal earning the maximum
revenue.
Further, he disclosed his party’s plan
of operating bullet trains to enable the residents of the district to
travel to the national capital and other parts of the country in quick
time.
Speaking about the NDA’s ‘Look East
Policy’, Ahluwalia said the process to develop the northeastern states
will also benefit Siliguri immensely as it is the gateway to those
regions.
When asked whether he was hopeful of
receiving a cabinet portfolio, the BJP leader said, “It is up to the
prime minister to choose his cabinet ministers and I do not wish to
encroach in such a matter.”
Asked for his comments on the manner in
which the TMC swept Bengal by clinching 34 seats, Ahluwalia said
laconically, “Numbers do not always matter.”(EOIC)