DDUDF founder and independent LS
candidate Dr. Mahendra P Lama has condemned BJP prime ministerial
candidate Narendra Modi for his “humiliating comment” towards the Gorkha
community. Lama, who is in Kalimpong for a road show, demanded Modi, SS
Ahluwalia and Bimal Gurung should apologies for the comment Modi made
during his election rally in Siliguri. “His comment describing the
Gorkhas as mere security guards is highly condemnable. It has undermined
and humiliated our contributions,” Lama said.
He advised Modi to study history to
understand the contributions made by the Gorkhas in building the nation.
During his speech in Khaprail, Modi had said, “Gorkhas work as security
guards across the country; people do not trust the police, but they
trust the Gorkhas.”
Lama said Modi’s comments clearly show
his lack of knowledge about the Gorkhas. Lama said he had placed a
condition in exchange of his support saying the BJP should pledge in its
election manifesto a Gorkhaland state would be created within six
months of the saffron party coming to power, but Modi’s statement has
proved the party’s promise is an empty one.
Lama said, “Modi is misleading us by
claiming his dream and that of the Gorkhas is the same. A Gorkha’s dream
is not just Gorkhaland, but many other aspirations intertwined. Modi
totally failed to address the aspiration of the Gorkhas in his speech.”
Insisting there is no reason to trust
the BJP, Lama said, “We elected BJP veteran Jaswant Singh in the last
general elections. Telangana was created during his tenure, but the BJP
did not speak a word about Gorkhaland.”
The DDUDF leader also said the saffron
party is getting goose-bumps seeing the strong support for him, adding
Ahluwalia is headed for a shameful loss. Rebuking GJM chief Bimal
Gurung, the independent candidate said, “On one hand he shouts slogans
demanding Gorkhaland, and on the other, he claps in agreement when
Gorkhas are called security guards. How can such a dubious individual
bring Gorkhaland?”
Further, Lama criticised GNLF chief
Subash Ghising for his decision to support the TMC and termed it
“technically flawed”. “The GNLF’s struggle for Gorkhaland boiled down to
the DGHC. Then they shouted for Sixth Schedule status, but now they are
turning to the DGHC again. It has been mentioned in the GTA accord the
DGHC stands dissolved.”(EOIC)