TV
Achyuta Samanta, the founder of KIIT University in Bhubaneswar, is yet to make a public statement directly addressing the accusations of grabbing private and government lands and carrying out illegal constructions. However, he targeted the Odisha Television Network (OTV) through a sponsored press meet on Tuesday for bringing out the loopholes.
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Samanta is under increasing scrutiny as new allegations, including accusations of land scams and failing to disclose claims of misconduct, emerge. Instead, he appears to be targeting the leading media house of Odisha, by using current and past students to defend him.
In a press conference, alumni of the Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS) threatened OTV and its management, including its Managing Director Jagi Mangat Panda and Lok Sabha MP Baijayant Panda. Despite these efforts, the students were unable to convincingly refute claims regarding the accuracy of OTV's reports.
“Through the media, I want to inform MP Baijayant Panda and Jagi Mangat Panda to refrain from furnishing negative news in the days to come. Otherwise, 40,000 students of KISS, 40,000 alumni, and 8 lakh families associated with the institute will unite and fight on the roads. They will even gherao OTV office,” a youth warned in the presser.
The press conference was seen by some as tumultuous, with some students walking out as questions became tougher. Despite frequent media reports, Samanta has remained silent on the allegations, preferring instead to channel denunciations through the students.
News based on government reports
OTV maintains the factual basis of its reports, which are grounded in information provided by State government bodies, and persists in its commitment to balanced journalism. OTV also offers various perspectives to substantiate its claims.
In light of these events, calls are growing for Samanta to directly address the allegations himself or to host a press conference to publicly clarify his position. OTV reassures viewers of its dedication to impartial reporting and remains ready to present his viewpoint should he choose to offer it in the days ahead.
Reacting to this, a social activist Pradeep Pradhan said, “Nobody in Odisha wants that KIIT and KISS get ruined. But, the dark side of Achyuta Samanta must come to the fore. Let people know about his nasty politics and ‘Dalali’. We have been demanding before the government to probe his dubious character.”
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“He (Samanta) or his board of directors are not coming to the front and clarifying the charges. Instead, he is utilising innocent students and their parents and conducting press meets. In a sense, he has indirectly admitted that he is a land grabber,” Pradhan added.
