Shifting of IIT from Orissa Opposed: Sambad

Pioneer: ABVP gheraos Raj Bhawan, opposes IIT shifting

ABVP gheraos Raj Bhawan, opposes IIT shifting

Pioneer News Service | Bhubaneswar

Stepping up its agitation against the shifting up the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) from the State, the ABVP on Wednesday gheraoed the Raj Bhawan here and sought the direct intervention of Governor Rameshwar Thakur in the issue.

The ABVP activist staged a day-long dharna in front of the Raj Bhawan, during which they had a scuffle with the police. About 100 demonstrators were arrested by the police when they tried to enter the Raj Bhawan forcibly.

The ABVP leaders submitted a memorandum to the Governor, urging his direct intervention in the issue. The Congress-led UPA Government had earlier promised location of National Institute of Sciences ( NIS) in Orissa, but subsequently it was shifted elsewhere. This time the proposed IIT has also been shifted from the State. In fact, two IITs were promised to Orissa, but not even one is being located in the State, ABVP State general secretary Nirmal Sarangi said, adding that such a move is purely politically motivated, as the Centre wants to satisfy the UPA allies.

"We have urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, President APJ Abdul Kalam and Congress President Sonia Gandhi to look into the matter seriously and take into account Orissa's interest," Sarangi said.

Despite Union Minister of State for Human Resource Development Fatmi's promise in August last year, Orissa has been ignored in the matter of location of an IIT, ABVP activists pointed out.

"Union Human Resource Development Minister Arjun Singh is anti-Orissa and the UPA Government is more worried for the States which are governed by the Congress," ABVP national executive member Mahesh Mishra alleged. He warned that unless the Union Government's decision is reversed, ABVP would intensify its agitation.

The agitation over the IIT issue is likely to gather further momentum as Agami Odisha will hold a preparatory meeting on February 26 to decide its further course of action on the issue. Persons associated with different organisations are expected to participate in the meeting.

Kalinga Times: ABVP demands IIT for Orissa

(Update: Also reported in Hindu)

ABVP demands IIT for Orissa

KalingaTimes Correspondent Bhubaneswar: Orissa unit of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad staged a demonstration outside Raj Bhawan here on Wednesday to register their protest against the United Progressive Alliance Government's move to shift the proposed Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) from the State. Angry activists of the organisation broke the police cordon and staged a sit-in outside the main gate of Raj Bhavan demanding that the Centre should set up an IIT in the State. Raising slogans against the Centre, the youths blamed the Centre for neglecting the State. In a memorandum submitted to the Centre, the ABVP demanded that the Union Human Resource Development Ministry should reconsider its decision to set an IIT in Orissa as was decided by it earlier. The organisation announced that it would intensify its agitation to highlight the demand for setting up of an IIT in Orissa if the Centre did not take any decision in favour of the State soon. A full-fledged IIT was needed for the State as it was attracting huge investments in the recent years and many companies had started process to set up industries in various sectors. Institutions such as IIT were necessary to ensure economic development in the State in the years to come, the ABVP leaders said.