In the light of the Supreme Court’s judgement on the proposed Vedanta University, a State-level meeting was held by the Vedanta Biswavidyalaya Birodhi Sangarsha Samitti here under the chairmanship of its convenor and former MLA Umaballav Rath to demand implementation of the court’s order by the State Government. Political leaders from Congress, BJP, CPI and CPI(M) as well as  intellectuals and activists expressed their views. The Sammiti’s main two demands were return of the project-acquired land to the local farmers and Lord Jagannath Temple immediately without collecting the compensation amount from the land losers and collection of the court-imposed fine from Vedanta.

Congress leaders Niranjan Patnaik, Jagannath Patnaik, MLA Mohammad Moquim and Panchanan Kanungo, BJP leader Bijay Mohaptra, CPI(M) leader Suresh Panigrahi, CPI leader Ramkrushna Panda, activist Prafulla Samantara, Gandhian Krishna Mohanty,  Padama Shri Devi Prasanna Pattnaik, journalist Rabi Das and others shared their views and supported the Samiti’s demand of return of the acquired land to the land losers. They criticised the then State Government for its procedural illegality in allotting land to the proposed Vedanta University at Puri

MLA Moquim suggested a Padayatra from Puri to Kalahandi for public awareness on the issue which was supported by others.

The participants suggested formation of a committee to chalk out next legal, administrative, political and public-awareness courses of action. While Panchanan Kanungo suggested CLP leader Narasingha Mishra to head the committee, Niranjan Patnaik wanted that a non-political leader like Gandhian Krishna Mohanty should head it.

Samiti convenor Umaballav Rath thanked everybody who supports the anti-Vedanta University movement.