Dharawad: When the Siddaramaiah-led Congress Government was in power in the State, an IIT was sanctioned for Dharawad. Former Minister Vinay Kulkarni said it was the Congress which laid the foundation for it.
Kulkarni was speaking to mediapersons here. “It is a matter of happiness for all of us that an IIT is being inaugurated at Vidyakashi Dharawad. When IIT was given to Karnataka, there were discussions that it should go to Raichur. At that time, we all went together and demanded that this IIT Centre should be set up in Dharawad itself. However, IIT Raichur was shifted to Mysore. We all had to put up a big fight to bring it back to Dharawad.”
“As a result of the struggle then, the IIT in Dharawad is being inaugurated. R. V. Deshpande, the then Industries Minister, worked to provide 500 acres of land for the IIT. There were several works that were done to get IIT to Dharawad. We were instrumental in bringing the Railway Line, Air Connectivity, and Bus Facility. BJP Leaders also worked with us. Together, we had worked to bring IIT, Dharawad,” he said.
“As we had demanded earlier, 25% of students from the State should be admitted in this IIT. Children who have been given land for IITs should be given D Grade jobs there. Vinay Kulkarni demanded that it should be announced on the day of inauguration.
