Gurung slams Lama for furthering self-interest on Gorkhaland

SNS Kurseong, 9 October 2013: The GJMM chief, Mr Bimal Gurung, seems to have thrown cold water on the noted academic Mr Mahendra P Lama’s hope of contesting the upcoming Lok Sabha election as a consensus candidate from Darjeeling constituency, saying that Mr Lama is interested more in furthering his own interests rather than championing the cause of Gorkhaland. 

However, Mr Gurung did not mention the academic’s name while debunking him. 

Addressing the party’s foundation day rally in Kurseong on Sunday, he said that Gorkhaland is not a document to be put in and out of a cupboard at the sweet will of an individual. 

“Someone keeps boasting that he would conjure up Gorkhaland after becoming an MP,” the GJMM leader said ~ the sarcasm seemingly pointed at Mr Lama. 

“Does he think Mr Jaswant Singh, the present MP, is a lesser being or a charlatan? 

A number of persons have got elected over the years and things have remained stuck where they have always been. It is Mr Singh who has successfully taken the statehood issue from the streets of the Hills to the Parliament. He has articulated the Hills’ emotions several times,” he said. 

Notably, Mr Lama has been campaigning across the Hills over the past few months, claiming himself as a candidate for the forthcoming Lok Sabha election. He keeps stressing that he would not just strive for Gorkhaland but for all-round development. 

He said an MP can do a lot apart from the service being rendered through the GTA. However, Mr Lama could not be contacted.