Sambalpur, May 11: The BJD today took out a rally in support of its demand for the establishment of the proposed Indian Institute of Management (IIM) in the city.

The protesters also sent around 5,000 postcards to the President of India to convey their demand.

Demanding the IIM to be set up in Sambalpur, the rally started from Balibandha and culminated in front of the head post office after passing through Kunjelpara, Jharuapara, Nandpara and Badsadak.

Senior leaders, including BJD district president Rohit Pujari, Sambalpur MLA Raseswari Panigrahi, former Rajya Sabha MP Pramila Bohidar and Sambalpur Development Authority chairman Bijaya Mohanty took part in the rally.

"Chief minister Naveen Pattnaik has recommended Sambalpur as location of the proposed IIM. However, it is unfortunate that the Union government is not taking any initiative in this regard. The two Union ministers from the state and the local Bharatiya Janata Party leaders should persuade the Centre to take the initiative," said Pujari.

"If the Union government does not take steps to set up the IIM in Sambalpur, we will intensify our agitation," Pujari said.

"The Union HRD minister (Smriti Irani) had assured us that if the state government recommended Sambalpur, her department would take the necessary action. Since the state has strongly recommended Sambalpur for the location, the Union government must immediately start the process," said state secretary of Biju Yuva Janata Dal Sanjit Mohanty.

The People's Forum for IIM in Sambalpur, which has also taken up the demand, extended its support to the BJD rally.

"We had also met the Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 29 and Union HRD minister Smriti Irani on April 27 on this issue. The Union government and the Odisha government should take concrete measures for setting up the IIM as soon as possible," said Sapan Mishra, convener of People's Forum for IIM.