The demand for establishing Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in Raichur got stronger on Thursday with a series of protest demonstrations.
Thousands of students from various schools and colleges boycotted their classes to participate in the agitation. They took out march from their respective schools and colleges and converged at the office of Deputy Commissioner, raising slogans and waving banners and flags. A memorandum was submitted to the office of Deputy Commissioner.
Addressing those gathered at the site, Mr. Parasmal Sukhani, chairman of Taranath Shikshana Samasthe, said that the establishment of an IIT in Raichur would be an important milestone in the direction of fighting backwardness in Hyderabad-Karnataka region. He also opined that it would be an ideal place for the premier institute as it was well connected by air, road and rail apart from having had abundant land and water resources.
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"The struggles for getting IIT in Raichur would be intensified if the government continues to neglect our demand," he said.
Satyagraha:
The IIT Horata Samithi, the conglomeration of different organisations, political parties, organisations and individuals, staged a token Satyagraha near Mahatma Gandhi statue outside District Stadium.
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Addressing the huge gathering, Basavaraj Kalasa, president of the Samithi, said that the "D.M. Nanjundappa Committee on redressing regional imbalances in the state has clearly recommended an IIT for Raichur. The State cabinet has also passed a resolution in 2012 recommending Raichur for IIT. It should not renege".