The Opposition Congress on Monday severely criticised the State Government in the Assembly accusing it of having a hidden agenda with the Centre and betraying western Odisha vis-à-vis establishment of the proposed Indian Institute of Management (IIM) in the region.
Raising the issue during the Zero Hour, Naba Kishore Das said the State Government has once again betrayed the western Odisha as its recommendation for establishment of the proposed IIM at Sambalpur has changed dubiously.
“The State Government’s recommendation for Sambalpur as location for the proposed IIM was politically-motivated ahead of civic body polls. It doesn’t want the premier institute be established in western Odisha. It has hidden dealings with the Centre in fear of CBI probe going on in the State,” he said.
Alleging that the Government has done little for the region in its 14 years of rule, Das said,” The proposed IIM can be established either at Sambalpur, Jharsuguda, Rourkela or at Balangir. If the IIM doesn’t come up at any of these places, it will add to the regional disparity only.” He urged the Speaker to direct the Government to establish the institute in the western region.
Das was supported by his party college Prafulla Majhi, who said the reported decision to set up the premier institute in Bhubaneswar has come as a betrayal to the people of western Odidha, particularly adivasis. He also demanded that the institute come up in the western region.