Date:03/01/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/01/03/stories/2007010306610800.htm

Andhra Pradesh

IIT location: TRS MP announces resignation

Staff Reporter

Protest against establishing the premier institute in Medak district

BASAR: Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) MP from Adilabad T. Madhusudan Reddy on Tuesday announced his resignation in protest against the Andhra Pradesh Government's decision to establish an Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in Medak district in preference to Basar.

He handed over a letter addressed to the Lok Sabha Speaker to Telugu Desam Party spokesman S. Venugopalachary, who presided over an all-party meeting here.

The TRS MP said he was resigning to register his protest against the State Government's unilateral decision in going back on its earlier proposal to set up the IIT in Basar, the seat of the famous Saraswathi temple. He recalled that the Assembly had adopted a resolution favouring Basar as location for the premier institute. "I have failed to discharge my duties and have no right to continue as an MP," Mr. Reddy observed.

The all-party meeting was attended by D. B. Patel, Bharatiya Janata Party's MP from Nanded in Maharashtra, who assured his support for the demand. Making light of the Chief Minister's reservations on Basar as the location for the IIT, Mr. Patel said an airport was coming up in October at Nanded which was 60 km away from Basar. He said that all the 25 BJP and Shiv Sena MPs from Maharashtra would back the demand.

Facilities available

Nizamabad Staff Reporter adds: Leaders who spoke at the meeting were of the view that all facilities required for the IIT were available at Basar.

The IIT here would help develop the backward regions of Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.

The leaders earlier visited a relay hunger strike camp on the temple road. The hunger strike launched by all-party leaders and students entered the ninth day. Students also took out a motorcycle rally shouting slogans for the IIT.