Tathya.in: IIT issue rocks Orissa assembly

Bhubaneswar:30/March/2007
Letter writing obsession of Naveen Patnaik received a jolt from his BJP partner in Orissa Legislative Assembly on March 29.

The concept of sending missives to Centre on burning issues and wait for the wind fall gain did not cut ice with BJP legislator Mahesh Sahu.

On the other hand Mahesh echoed the Biju Patnaik agenda of “Economic Blockade” to bring home the point.

He said central leadership is highly insensitive and thick skinned over the ever daunting problems of Orissa.

They see everything on political lines, he alleged.

They will not respond to our needs, unless we adopt the Biju Agenda of economic barriers to put forth our demand, he added.

Mahesh was participating in a debate on a calling attention notice over Centre’s neglect on setting up IIT in Orissa.

He said with massive industrialization in offing the requirement of engineers of IIT background will be high.

Keeping this in view we must force the Centre for an IIT by adopting Economic Blockade.

BJP member Aswini Kumar Patra those days are gone when Oriyas are used to go as “Kuli and Mulia”, now we have to put forth our demand in a forceful manner not meek and mildly to get the point.

Patra suggested a House Committee be formed under the chairmanship of the speaker and a delegation may visit New Delhi to press the IIT issue.

Industries minister B B Harichandan replying the debate said that the state government has once again brought to the notice of the Centre on setting up of a IIT for which a land of 300 acre has been identified which will be provided free of cost.

He said since 2003 the government is in constant touch with the Centre through letters and recently Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has written letter to Prime Minister Dr.Man Moahn Singh objecting the decision of the Centre to shift the proposed IIT of Orissa to Andhra Pradesh.

Minister informed the House that the state government was sure of the IIT project as minister of state (MOS) of HRD M A Fatmi has assured through an announcement but it came as a shock when media highlighted about the shifting of the institution to the other state.