Karnataka CM’s U-turn adds to further confusion over IIT location

BENGALURU: Chief minister Siddaramaiah has been issuing confusing statements on the location of IIT. More than a week after he wrote to centre seeking change in the location to Dharwad from Raichur, Siddaramaiah on Tuesday made another U-turn saying he never demanded that the IIT be set up in Raichur. ''Perhaps he must have realized there is no point in playing politics over the location because centre would not buy his renewed proposal,'' said a senior BJP leader reating to his statement. But it was quite apparent that the CM was taken aback by the protest in Dharwad recently over his change of mind and also wanted to send out a message to the people there and the opposition BJP, which was taking all the credit for getting IIT to Dharwad. Siddaramaiah said he had only brought to the notice of the Centre the previous BJP government's decision to recommend Raichur as the location. ''We would extend support to centre to set up IIT in any district but more importantly the state should have an IIT," he added. -TOI