Stir continues over IIT in Telengana

Telengana Rashtriya Samiti (TRS) leaders in Andhra Pradesh have expressed resentment over shifting of the proposed Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) from Adilabad district even as the state government stood firmly by its decision.

Elected representatives from Adilabad, Nizamabad and Karimnagar districts in Andhra Pradesh and Nanded district in Maharashtra held a conclave yesterday to float a 'IIT Sadhana Samithi' in the temple town of Basara in Adilabad.

They strongly condemned the state government's proposal to shift the IIT site from Basara, which houses the second Saraswathi temple (first being in Jammu and Kashmir) to Medak district, and Adilabad TRS MP Madhusudhan Reddy offered to quit his seat and seek re-election on the issue.

Three resolutions seeking establishment of an IIT in Basara were passed in the assembly in the recent past, and TDP expressed resentment over shifting it to Medak while the government contended that the site was shifted to Medak to fulfill guidelines like road, rail and air connectivity.

Elected representatives of the opposition parties said they would intensify the struggle to get IIT in Basara, which would help in the development of the backward region of the state along with parts of Marathwada region of Maharashtra.