IIM in western Odisha: Reps to meet PM

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Sambalpur, Mar 24:

The tug of war over pinning the site for the proposed Indian Institute of Management in Odisha is far from over as representatives of a people’s forum in Sambalpur have decided to transport the contentious issue to Delhi darbar.

In a meeting held last night, the members of the forum decided to take the battle to the Centre where a team of delegates would meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union HRD Minister Smriti Irani in next three days to press for their demand.

The members said they would submit evidence and apprise the HRD minister and prime minister of the secret land deals by the politicians at Gothapatana, the proposed IIM site on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar. Besides, they would expose the ministers, politicians and the bureaucrats involved in the conspiracy to set up IIM at state capital.

“We would not tolerate injustice and betrayal to the people of western Odisha. We would continue our agitation till our demands are met,” a member of the forum said.

The members have also approached the local MP Nagendra Pradhan to raise the issue in the Lok Sabha.

A protest rally on April 1 (Fool’s Day) will be held at Golbazar square to give impetus to the public opinion and form a joint people’s forum in support of legitimate demands of the western Odisha.

The forum expressed its gratitude towards Union minister Jual Oram for proposing Sambalpur, Jharsuguda and Sundargarh as probable sites for IIM.

The members expressed strong views that no politician of any party would be allowed to take credit for the IIM till it is finalised in favour of Sambalpur.

Besides, they have decided to light ‘Akhand Deep’ at Samaleswari Temple during their visit to New Delhi.