If Rourkela is denied IIM, it would be due to lack of proper lobby by local BJP MP Jual Oram and MlA Dilip Ray with their central leaders, alleged the Kosal Kranti Dal (KKD) on Friday.
KKD State vice-president Baidyanath Mishra told a Press conference here that people of Rourkela had voted the BJP for development of the steel city even though the BJD was in high noon of its popularity. So, the MP and the MlA should now resign, Mishra said.
He remarked that Naveen Pattnaik is behaving like the Chief Minister of Bhubaneswar and not of entire Odisha as all the Central projects are availed of by him for the State capital city or the coastal belt.
Mishra demanded a plebiscite for division of the ‘Kosal’ (western) region from Odisha. Although the KKD supports IIM at Rourkela, it would not support the call for a Rourkela Bandh on Saturday because the bandh supporters are only shedding crocodile tears.
Another issue raised by Mishra related to constitution of a second State Reorganisation Commission (SRC). He said efforts are on to hold a national symposium in Delhi and unite all like-minded people to press for this demand.
He said States like Telangana and Jharkhand are not in peace due to immature political decision of the BJP and Congress. Similarly, there are demands for Vidarbha, Purbanchal, Kosal, Gorkhaland, etc., which should be taken up by a new SRC and recommend to the Central Government for a permanent solution.
Even the first SRC constituted in 1953 failed to address the problems faced by the then States. Some north eastern States are in favour of merger which a new commission could examine in its right perspective, said Mishra.
KKD vice-president Sagar Singh Mankee, general secretary Ram Chandra Amat, president of Rourkela organisational district Hrudananda Behera and vice-president Jaisingh Singh, youth leader Manoj Roudia and founder members Surama Mishra and Swarup Mishra were present.