Mukesh sharma

Kalimpong,14th Dec

Mahendra P Lama, a consensual candidate from Darjeeling constituency for the 2014 general elections,Addressing the third meeting of DDUDF  promise of striving towards achieving statehood if the people send him to Parliament.

Without naming any political parties, the former Sikkim University vice-chancellor said the demand for a separate state has not been taken up in earnest even as he vowed to make every possible effort towards fulfilling the more than 107 years old aspiration of the hills if he gets elected MP.

“We never reached the parliament, in our 67 yrs history our main agenda was raise for 6-8 times only' claimed Lama, while addressing the public at the mela ground here today.

The Meeting held under the banner of Darjeeling Dooars United Development Foundation (DDUDF) had many leader of political and apolitical organisation today in the meeting which has apolitical bodies.

According to Lama, a separate state can only be achieved if demand for it is pursued in Parliament through proper channels, and in order to make inroads into the august House, there is need for a member.

He explained, “ How the ‘Sansad’ is a powerful body and we must place our demand there in the right manner to emerge successful in our endeavour.”

Lama said that the  .“The DDUDF has not been formed to comment on political parties or to make enemies. We want to move forward for a separate state together,” he said.

Lama’s organisation has a 25-point charter that it aspires to follow to reach its ultimate goal. “The Foundation stands for the people’s thoughts, hopes and beliefs and as such, its objectives are in line with what they desire to realise,” said the academician.

To ensure far-reaching and sustained development of the region, big investors and companies will be wooed to come to the hills and measures taken to make sure central government schemes implemented properly, if he becomes a MP

“It is not the people who develop a region but ‘sansthas’ .

Lama, who is also a member of the National Security Advisory Board, dwelled on the benefits of bringing the Darjeeling hills under the North East Council (NEC), a move he alleged was being opposed by the state government. Other topics he touched upon were establishing a tea auction centre for Darjeeling tea, according the popular commodity World Heritage Status and re-introducing the three-tier Panchayat system in the hills.

He added that he will do his best to conduct the panchayat system in hills by amending the constituion which was never done beofre the MP who represented this Constituency from 1992 onwards.

Further, Lama pointed out the need to open the Jelepla Pass in Kalimpong not just for trade and commerce, but for establishing friendly relations with China.