Darjeeling-Sikkim ‘merger’

Noted academician Dr Mahendra P Lama, who is fast becoming the topic of hot discussions in the political landscape of the Hills, has declined to make any comment on the demand of the Gorkha Rastriya Congress for a Darjeeling-Sikkim ‘merger’.
This comes after the former vice chancellor of Sikkim University announced his candidature for the 2014 Lok Sabha elections as an independent candidate from Darjeeling. But Lama has steered clear from the merger issue and has been asserting all the while his sole objective is to convey the aspirations of the people of Darjeeling to the right places.
Even so, with a person of Lama’s stature being pushed into the limelight, almost every political party here, including the general public, are eagerly anticipating his next move. Still, on the GRC’s merger demand, he says he has thought nothing on those lines as the ultimate desire of the people of Darjeeling is a separate state.
All the same, GRC president Nima Lama has said the party would definitely support the academician’s decision to represent Darjeeling in the forthcoming general elections, more so if he too were to believe the GRC’s call for merging Darjeeling with Sikkim is the best solution to separate it from Bengal.
The GRC chief also said the party condemns chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s frequent statements about Darjeeling being an inseparable part of Bengal. He said in the first place, Darjeeling was never a part of Bengal and historically belongs to Sikkim to prove which enough evidence is available.
Nima Lama added that to intensify the party’s demand, a delegation comprising representatives from Darjeeling and Sikkim will be soon heading to Delhi to meet central leaders and ministers for mobilising support on merger issue. The GRC delegate is scheduled to leave for Delhi on August 3 and Lama said several appointments have already been fixed.(EOIC)