Darjeeling MP Faces Heat Over Choice of Model Village

The opposition parties have heavily criticized Darjeeling MP SS Ahluwalia on his choice of village for the Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojna.

Opposition leaders particular from the hills have condemned the move as being motivated by calculation of vote and vote bank than real development of an area which is hitherto neglected and marginalized as envisioned by the Prime Minister.

Pic by Kundan Yolmo: SS Ahluwalia in Naxal
leader Kanu Sanyal's house

Speaking to the press, DDUDF Chief Dr. M P Lama said, "We had repeatedly warned that we cannot afford to elect an outsider as our MP... this is what happens when you elect an outsider... SS Ahluwalai has no idea about the socio-economic and geographical realities of Darjeeling constituency... he is least bothered about the development of the hills... what has he done so far that exhibits that he has the best intentions towards Darjeeling hills? Nothing..."

Explaining his criticism Dr. Lama said, "see Hatighisa lies along a national highway... it is 20 kilometers away from a University and 22 kilometers away from a medical college... it is more or less already developed... as compared to places in the hills where the roads are yet to be built... or electricity is yet to be connected"

"Places like Todey-Tangta in Kalimpong sub-division and Jhepi in Rimbick region are far more deprived than Hatighisa," said Dr Lama

Ciriticising Ahluwalia's choice former Rajyasabha MP and CPI(M) leader Saman Pathak said, "there are so many villages in the hills that are yet to see even an iota of development... moreover Darjeeling hills haven't had any panchayat elections for the past 10 years... the state government has not handed over all the departments to GTA... in such a situation for the MP to select a village in the plains which is already more or less developed reeks of opportunism."

He further added, "it is shameful and hurtful that such a noble initiative which could be used to transform a marginalized and deprived village in the hills has been overlooked in favour of a village which sits next to a highway"



CPRM leader Govind Sharma added, "This MP has completely ignored the hills in favour of the plains... and its all right if you are focusing more on the plains as it is also part of Darjeeling district... but choose villages that really need development... not a one which sits next to national highway and already has access to schools, banks, hospitals... if you want to develop... develop those villages where there is no electricity or drinking water or health facilities."

MP Ahluwalia has stated that he will be spending around 24 crores to develop Hatighisa as a model village and transform it.

Speaking on the issue, Upendra an eminent political observer from the hills said, "see its all a matter of timing... with Siliguri Municipal Corporation and Siliguri Mahakuma Parishad elections round the corner, BJP is trying to make its presence felt in the plains... Going by the Votes polled in the MP elections... this time around BJP has a very good chance of forming boards at both SMC and SMP... given this it is but natural for them to be trying to strengthen their base in the plains..."

Moreover he adds, "Hatighisa is emotionally linked to numerous people in the plains due to its association with Charu Majumdar and Kanu Sanyal led Naxalite movement... so I see it as a very politically astute move... this will help BJP to consolidate Kamtapuri/Rajbanshi and Adivasi votes and at the same time it will send a message to other voters in the plains that BJP is serious about developing the region"

But he added, "this does not mean that Darjeeling MP will completely neglect the hills... as far as I remember he has already said that he will pick one village from the plains and one from the hills... lets wait and see which village he picks up from the hills. "

Darjeeling is one of the most complicated constituencies in terms of its geographical and socio-political equations, but if genuine effort is made to develop this region, then the people across the board, from the hills to the plains will stand as one and cooperate.

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