Does BJD have a Dalit killer MLA, Congress asks Naveen

Bhubaneswar: Opposition Congress on Tuesday sought a clarification from Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik over the reported "Dalit Killer" remark of a minister against a former minister and a senior BJD MLA.

The issue was raised during the zero hour by Congress Chief Whip Prasad Harichandan who wanted a clarification from the Chief Minister, who is also the president of BJD.

Health and Family Welfare minister Damodar Rout in an interview to an English daily described Jagatsinghpur MLA and former minister Bishnu Charan Das as a "Dalit Killer", Harichandan pointed out.

Health and Family Welfare minister Damodar Rout in an interview had described Jagatsinghpur MLA and ex-minister Bishnu Charan Das as a Dalit killer.

Similarly, Das retaliated and dubbed Rout as a "Devil" in another English daily, the Congress leader said.

Referring to a rally held against Rout on Monday, Harichandan said the allegation and counter allegation by two senior BJD members - Rout and Das - had diminished the dignity of the Assembly.

Under such situation, the Chief Minister should come forward and give clarification on the matter concerning his party MLAs.

"Should we take it (Rout's Dalit Killer remark) as the state government's version," Harichandan asked adding that a minister's statement is generally considered as the stand of the government.

Is it a fact that the ruling BJD has a "Dalit Killer" MLA? Harichandan asked seeking immediate clarification.

Rout and Das are known rivals in Jagatsinghpur district and quite often they accuse each other for some matter or the other.

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