Strikes not a solution, says Lama

Mahendra P Lama addresses the meeting at Chowrastha in Darjeeling. Picture by Suman Tamang

TT, Darjeeling, Aug. 16: Mahendra P. Lama, the pro-vice chancellor of Indira Gandhi Open National University who earlier announced his decision to contest the Lok Sabha election from the Darjeeling constituency, today held a public meeting here and said politics of general strike would not help solve hill problems.

Lama walked for 40km from Kurseong to Darjeeling with his followers today and held a meeting at Chowrastha. “In the past 27 years, the hills have been closed for 234 days. But there has been no result. Strikes are not good for the region and the focus for Gorkhaland must be in Delhi,” said Lama.

The educationist also called upon the hill leaders to refrain from using students in political rallies. “These students will get an opportunity to participate in rallies later in their lives but they will not get an opportunity to study later.”