Darjeeling: "We want the separation of Gorkhaland from West Bengal in order to work towards economic liberalization," Amar Lama, a member of Gorkha Janmukti Morcha Central Committee said. "We have briefed New Delhi about the various scams and economic inconsistencies during Subash Ghisingh’s reign as the Chairman of Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council. Our focus has been economic liberalization and development of the Darjeeling Hills and hence we have told New Delhi that the same can only be possible after the formation of a separate state of Gorkhaland." Amar Lama was speaking to the press after having returned from New Delhi as a part of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha delegation to the Tripartite Meeting held in New Delhi. The Tripartite Meeting was attended by representatives from other pro-Gorkhaland Parties including Communist Party of India (CPI), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Congress I (Hills), Communist Party of Revolutionary Marxists (CPRM) and All India Gorkha League (AIGL). Documents, which are yet to be made public have been presented to the Central Government by the representatives of GJM.
Amar Lama said, "It is true that we are also struggling towards political identity and separation from Bengal. People in the hills have been struggling for this for a long time. However, focusing mainly on the issue that we cannot accept to solely depend on the aids sent by the Central and the State Government, we have decided to work towards economic self reliance and that can only be possible after Government. This is what we are trying to make the Central Government known that it is in national interest that a separate state of Gorkhaland be established under laws stipulated by the Constitution and formulated by the Union Parliament. Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council after its formation in 1988 has so far not submitted a single copy of its financial statements. All the Central and State Government financial aids made to this agency must be made public and the financial statements made known."
Speaking out on the finances received by Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council and other Governmental Agencies, Amar Lama said, "The West Bengal Government sents Rs. 400 crores for renovation of roads and water supply. We have found out that Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council has so far received Rs. 5000 Crores in Governmental Funding, but the West Bengal Government has so far not audited Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council. The West Bengal Government has further not made any earnest effort in upliftment of the people in the hills. We have submitted papers on how we can after the formation of Gorkhaland work towards economic liberalization and social upliftment of the people."
When asked how would economic liberalization be possible after the formation of Gorkhaland, Amar Lama said, "We have come up with a formula. There are great deal of land which are presently unused. Most of these lands being unusable, after converting them into fertile lands, we can use them for agriculture. 26,000 acres of land are being use for Cinchona cultivation. We can grow Sandal woods in our forest, generate electricity at Rungeet River. In the 6,500 square kilometer demanded under Gorkhaland map we can work to make more than 27 lakh people self reliant and socially enabled. Things have so far not worked because of the corruption in Governmental agencies. All these will be stopped once Gorkhaland is formed. Most of the money sent to Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council remains unused, we can use them after Gorkhaland is formed and create a model state in India."
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