Senior citizens demand cancellation of Achyuta Samanta’s RS ticket

Bhubaneswar: Days after KIIT and KISS founder Achyuta Samanta filed nomination for the Rajya Sabha elections, a few senior citizens of Bhubaneswar today moved the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) demanding an inquiry into his alleged illegal and unauthorised activities and cancellation of his nomination over allegations of land grabbing.

As per the complaint, the senior citizens had purchased land at Patharagadia under Bhubaneswar Tehsil, some in their own name and other in their spouses' name.

The senior citizens alleged that the Jagannath temple constructed by Samanta within the KIIT campus is situated on their land which has been forcefully occupied by Samanta.

This apart, they alleged that the compound walls of their lands have also been bulldozed. Besides, the road leading to the plots have been blocked while they are prevented by the security staff of KISS from entering the area, they further alleged.

“He has constructed Jagannath temple on our land. How does the government give a RS ticket to a person who is involved in so many illegal activities?” questioned a  woman who has also lost her land.

They even said that they were once manhandled and charged with lathis when they tried to enter into their lands while the land records they possessed were forcibly taken away from them allegedly by some hooligans.

“They have constructed a huge gate and we are not allowed to go through that road which leads to our plot,” alleged another.

Following this, an FIR was filed against Samanta but no action has been taken by the police yet, they stated.

Contacted, office of the KIIT founder Achyuta Samanta refused to comment on the issue.