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This is an archive article published on August 21, 2011

Rout was removed from cabinet for casteist remark: Minister

Rout should have resigned on his own after securing bail from Orissa High Court.

About three months after his resignation from Naveen Patnaik cabinet,Orissa Government on Saturday said Damodar Rout had to quit the ministry for the casteist remark allegedly made by him about dalits.

“Rout had lost confidence of the chief minister after he made some remark against dalits. The National Commission for Scheduled Caste had taken cognisance of Rout’s remarks. The Centre had given some suggestions to the chief minister on Rout case,” Revenue Minister S N Patro told the state assembly.

“He (Rout) should have resigned on his own after securing bail from Orissa High Court. But did not do so. Therefore,he was asked to quit by the chief minister on May 8,” Patro said.

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Patro made the statement when Rout in his reply to a question by a Congress member as to why he had resigned said among others “the chief minister asked me to resign perhaps to take more efficient person in the ministry.”

Rout had allegedly made some remark about dalits at a public meeting in his home district of Jagastinghpur last year. He was chargesheeted and currently on bail.

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