Senior BJD leader and Agriculture Minister Damodar Rout, known for his inclination of getting into controversies, has once again landed himself in a soup for his “beggar” remarks on Brahmins while attending the Malyabant Festival in Malkangiri recently.
Dr Rout in his address at the festival had said that the Adivasis never beg. They would drink water from the springs to survive but would never beg. But Brahmins would spread their arms for alms when the situation arises. The Minister’s statement has drawn a lot of flak from various organisations and triggered protests.
Members of the Mukti Mandap Pandit Mahasabha at the Shree Jagannath Temple of Puri and the Odisha Vedic Brahmana Parishad held demonstrations against Rout in Puri and burnt his posters on Wednesday and demanded his ouster from the State Cabinet.
They also warned that if Rout does not come and apologise before the Mukti Mandap Pandit Mahasabha, they would intensify their protess in the coming days.
However, Minister Rout remained adamant and refused to apologise for his remarks, saying, “I have not committed any mistake; hence, there is no question of my seeking apologies. A few politicians are making an issue out of my observation for their own interest.”
He further questioned, “If the Puri Brahmins don’t take alms then what do they takeIJ Is it tax that they takeIJ”