Walkout in RS over institute in Orissa

The NDA today staged a walkout in the Rajya Sabha to press for setting up of a National Institute of Science at Bhubaneswar. The NDA alleged that the UPA government was deliberately ignoring non-UPA ruled states.

Raising the issue during Zero Hour, B J Panda (BJD) accused the Centre of playing regional politics. He said UGC had promised NIS to Orissa. But it was scrapped by UPA government.

He said along with Bhubaneswar, UGC had selected Chennai, Pune and Allahabad for setting up such institutes. Panda told the House while UPA was not implementing the assurance given by the UGC, it had decided to build a NIS in Kolkota.