Opposition stage walkout over IIT issue

Hyderabad, Mar 28 (UNI) The members of the main opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) as also the TRS, CPI, CPI(M) and BJP staged a walkout in the Assembly, demanding the proposed Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) be located at the temple town of Basra in Adilabad district bordering Maharashtra.

Dissatisfied with the Higher Education Minister P Venkateswara Rao's reply that the government was awaiting a report of an experts committee constituted to decide on the location of the IIT, leader of the Opposition N Chandrababu Naidu accused the Congress government of standing on false prestige and putting districts at loggerheads and led his members out of the House.

Mr Naidu claimed that the government had put the sanctity of the House in question by proposing to change the location of the IIT to Medak, despite the resolutions passed by the Assembly thrice. Basra, the abode of Goddess of learing Saraswati, had all the required infrastructure facilities and an International Airport was fast nearing completion in Nanded in neighbouring Maharashtra, Mr Naidu said.

Legislative Affiars Minister K Rosaiah maintained that the government was not against sanctioning the IIT in Basra.

He wanted the opposition parties to put forth their arguments before the committee and convince them on the issue.

Contending that the government was allegedly conspiring to deny the prestigious institution coming to Telangana by delaying a decision on its location, TRS floor leader G Vijayarama Rao led his party members out of the House.

CPI floor leader Chada Venkata Reddy and CPI(M) floor leader Nomula Narasimhaiah opposed the government's stand of constituting a committee after the House had passed a unanimous resolution on the issue and led their members out.

BJP floor leader G Kishen Reddy said he had no objection if the government could get two IITs one in Medak and one in Basra before leaving the House in protest.

Janata Party member Sasishar Reddy on the other hand protested against the opposition parties objection to locating IIT in backward Medak, while Samajwadi Party member D K Aruna demanded that the prestigious institute be located in Mehboobnagar.

UNI