The IIT Horata Samiti urged the State government to send an all-party delegation to the Union government to push for an Indian Institute of Technology in Raichur district.
Addressing a media conference at the Reporters’ Guild here on Saturday, samiti president Basavaraj Kalasa alleged that both the State and Union governments were not keen on addressing the demand.
"A high-power committee headed by D. M. Nanjundappa has clearly recommended the establishment of an IIT in Raichur. The governments should implement the recommendation as the premier institute would help fighting backwardness of the region,” he said.
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Mr. Kalasa said that the State Cabinet, led by then Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar, had also sent a proposal to the Union Government in this regard.
"Yet, Union Minister for Human Resource Development Smriti Zubin Irani, while replying to Raichur Lok Sabha member B.V. Naik's question in Parliament, said that her Ministry had not received any proposal from Karnataka and hence it was not included in the 2014 budget," he said.
Mr. Kalasa opined that exchanging letters alone would not push the demand forward. Instead, the matter required persistent follow-up.
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"Karnataka's Higher Education Minister R.V. Deshpande had assured the State Legislative Council that a delegation would be taken to the Union government to pursue the demand. Nothing of the sort has been done so far,” he alleged.
BJP District President Basavanagowda Byagwatt, JD(S) district president Mahantesh Patil Attanur, Raichur Chamber of Commerce and Industries secretary Jagadish Gupta, and BJP leader Bandesh Valkamdinni were present.