KIIT university row: BJD showed undue favours to Achyuta Samanta, alleges BJP MLA

Once again the BJP has racked up the issue of alleged undue favours shown towards Achyuta Samanta, the founder of the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) by the previous Biju Janata Dal (BJD) government. This time BJP MLA Saroj Padhi has posed several questions, including allegations of land grabbing by KIIT in the name of setting up of a premier institute.

As per the allegations of the BJP lawmaker, KIIT founder Achyuta Samanta was an MP from the BJD and the party showed undue favours to him. Padhi also demanded an impartial investigation into the alleged illegal grabbing of government and forest land by Achyuta Samanta.

‘Grabbing Govt & Forest Lands, bringing Shame To Odisha’

“I fail to understand what benefits the BJD was getting for which it was showing much leniency to Samanta. Will you resort to illegal construction in the name of setting up reputed institute? Taking away forest and government land, bringing shame to Odisha is not acceptable. Achyuta Samanta was BJD MP, and the party now wants to protect him. BJP wants an impartial probe as to what is happening in KIIT. All the things that are going viral including violations and land encroachments should be probed,” said Padhi.

Padhi said that nobody is above law and CM Mohan Majhi has clearly stated that action will be taken as per law.

Also Read: Allegations of land encroachment by KIIT founder Achyuta Samanta trigger outcry in Odisha

“The founder of KIIT has taken undue favours and despite protests, the then BJD government ignored it and allowed an illegal institution. It clearly shows that BJD was getting some benefits for which it was blindly supporting its MP and the IIT founder,” he alleged, adding that the Odisha CM and other top leaders are reviewing all aspects.

BJD's Response To The Allegations:

On the other side, BJD MLA Pradip Dishari said that the matter concerning KIIT is a sensitive issue. Drawing attention to a tragic incident involving the death of a Nepali student, Dishari condemned the way the students were ill-treated and sent to Cuttack railway station. 

“It is a sensitive issue as there are good bilateral ties between India and Nepal. The state government needs to investigate under what circumstances the Nepali girl student died, and who is responsible. It is unfortunate the way the students were ill-treated and dropped at Cuttack railway station; we expressed concerns over it. Who gave such directions, whether it was the head of the institute or any other official? The government should examine and take action,” said Dishari.

Under what circumstances forest land was allotted to KIIT, the state government should take appropriate action after investigation and as per the law of the land, the BJD MLA added.

No comments could be obtained from KIIT or its founder over the allegations of the BJP MLA.