With the 16th general election fast
approaching, the Congress has also launched its campaigning in the
Darjeeling hills with full fervour. Congress LS candidate from
Darjeeling, Sujay Ghatak, today held a workers’ meeting in Kalimpong
where he said development of the hills is the primary agenda of the
party.
Speaking to reporters, he said, “Some
are going to the chief minister (Mamata Banerjee), while some are opting
for Modi. But the Congress is the only party that can promote
development, peace and harmony in the hills.”
Citing the visits to Darjeeling by
leaders such as Rajiv Gandhi and P Chidambaram, Ghatak claimed the
Congress has been playing a major role in coming up with a solution
whenever the hills are in trouble.
However, the Congress candidate brushed
aside the issue of the party’s hill unit seeking self determination,
terming it as the local leaders’ personal opinion. He asserted the
policies of the party are determined by the high command in Delhi and
there is almost no effect even if regional leaders here demand for a
Gorkhaland state. He added reports of the Congress mentioning the issue
of statehood or self-governance for Darjeeling is only the personal
opinion of the local party leadership.
Highlighting the party’s development
activities, Ghatak said the Balasan water project will solve the problem
of water scarcity in Darjeeling to a large extent. He said the GTA is
not being allowed to function properly due to undue interference by the
state government, claiming only central projects are running well in the
area.
The workers’ meeting was also addressed
by hill Congress president Saroj Khatri, vice-president Daniel Lepcha
and secretary Kiran Mukhia, among others.(EOIC)