Anti-Vedanta group’s Bijaya Samabesha, told CM is equally guilt

Anti-Vedanta group’s Bijaya Samabesha, told CM is equally guilt
Leaders of different Opposition parties converged at Beladal village on Tuesday to mark the victory of anti-Vedanta University project activists in their years-long struggle.

Lashing out at the Naveen Patnaik Government from the podium BJP leader Bijay Mohapatra alleged that it was bent upon favouring the varsity project despite the High Court’s verdict against the land acquisition for the project.

He demanded that Naveen Patnaik resign in the wake of the court verdict.

BJP State Legislature Party leader Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo wondered how the Chief Minister could mislead the Assembly over the project.

Quoting the Temple Act, he said its clause 16-ii says the property of Sri Jagannath could not be sold or mortgaged in any circumstances. But it was surprising that the State Government sold thousands of acres of temple land at a nominal price for the Vedanta University project. To protest this, a Jail Bharo agitation would be launched on December 3, followed by gheraoing of the Assembly on December 7, he announced.

This apart, a Statewide campaign would be launched to enlighten the people about the so-called transparency of the Naveen Patnaik Government on this university issue, he said.

Noted lawyer Jayant Das and journalist Rabi Das explained the High Court’s judgement in simple local dialect to make people understand the outcome of their struggle. Upali Aparajita, an academician from the US, elaborated the minimum land required for an international university.

Chief adviser of the Vedanta Vishwavidyalay Sangram Samiti and former Puri MLA Umaballav Rath, who presided over the meeting, dedicated the forum’s victory to Sri Jagannath. The entire struggle was on the basis of non-violence and it had yielded the desired result, he added.

Former Union Ministers Brajakishore Tripathy, Chandrashekher Sahu (Congress), Dharmendra Pradhan (BJP), Balgopal Mishra, convener of Gandhamadan Suraksha Samiti Pradip Purohit, Sarat Mishra, Puri Zilla Parishad president Sankershan Parida, Gourhari Pradhan and Debi Prasad Prusty flayed the Naveen Patnaik Government and demanded his resignation.

Vedanta Vishwavidyalay Sangram Samiti president Benudhra Pradhan expressed his gratitude to all for their active support to the cause of the farmers who were on the verge of losing their land and property. Activist Vishnu Mishra conducted the proceedings.

Earlier, hundreds of activists came in a motorcycle rally from the Lion’s Gate of the Sri Jagannath Temple to the site.