The controversy over location of the proposed Indian Institute of Management (IIM) in Odisha is yet to end as representatives of a people’s forum in Sambalpur have decided to take the issue to the Centre. At a meeting held on Monday, the members of the forum decided that 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 for the IIM’s location in Sambalpur.
The members said they would submit evidence and apprise the HRD Minister and PM of the alleged secret land deals by the politicians at Gothapatana, the proposed IIM site on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar. Besides, they would expose the Ministers and other politicians and the bureaucrats involved in the conspiracy to set up IIM at the 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 local MP Nagendra Pradhan to raise the issue in the lok Sabha. A protest rally on April 1 will be held at Golbazar Square to form a joint people’s forum in support of legitimate demands of western Odisha. Besides, they decided to light a Akhand Deep at the Samaleswari Temple during their visit to New Delhi.