Anti-strike voice in hills

VIVEK CHHETRI, TT, Darjeeling, Sept. 22: Mahendra P. Lama, who had announced his plan to contest the next Lok Sabha election from Darjeeling as an Independent, today advised the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha and other parties in the hills to refrain from calling general strikes and involving students in the agitation for Gorkhaland. 

“In the past 27 years, the hills have been closed for 234 days but time has come to start to rethink the strategy. 

We have to pinch where it hurts the most and if our decision is only hurting us and not where we intent to, then it is definitely time to rethink strategies,” Lama, the pro vice-chancellor of Indira Gandhi National Open University, told the media here. 

The educationist also spoke against the involvement of students in the agitation. “I don’t support the participation of students in the statehood movement. It will have a bearing on the society for the next 25 years. 

Our objective should be to encourage students to go in for higher studies, make a mark in their lives and teach them to be competitive. Education is the only path towards success,” said Lama. 

The Morcha has actively involved the students in the latest round of agitation that began on July 29. Lama said he wouldn’t be affiliated to any political party.