Orissadiary's coverage of the rally

Mass rally by Agami Odisha for establishment of IIT in Orissa

Sunday, April 08, 2007

Bhubaneswar: Intellectuals, artists, students, lawyers, sports person, politicians from Orissa under the banner of Agami Odisha and held a rally outside Raj Bhavan here on Sunday demanding establishment of an Indian Institute of Technology in Orissa.

Criticising the UPA Government at the Centre for neglecting the cause of the State, they also demanded upgradation of the University College of Engineering (UCE) at Burla as an Indian Institute of Engineering, Science & Technology (IIEST). In a memorandum, the members of Agami Odisha urged President APJ Abdul Kalam to intervene in the matter to ensure development of educational and scientific infrastructure in the State.

Participating in the rally, Biju Janata Dal leader and Rajya Sabha MP Baijayanta Panda announced that Agami Odisha will organise similar rallies in different corners of the State to highlight the two demands. Among others who took part in the rally, include Lok Sabha MP from Kendrapara Archana Nayak, well-known singer Prafulla Kar and several eminent educationists and social activists. The office-bearers of Agami Odisha - D K Ray (president), Lalit Pattnaik (working president), Sudarshan Das (vice-president), Santosh Tripathy (secretary) and Supriti Mishra (treasurer) - were present.

Agami Odisha has decided to organise a similar rally in New Delhi later this month to highlight the demands for establishment of IIT in Orissa.