Dalit representatives on Wednesday called on Governor SC Jamir, seeking action against Health Minister Dr Damodar Rout for his alleged frequent casteist remarks.
The Dalit leaders said that they urged for the Governor’s “decisive intervention” in the issue since Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is a “prisoner of indecision” over the matter in question. They said the Governor assured them to examine the matter before contemplating any action.
The Dalit leaders were critical of “habitual offences” committed against Dalits by Dr Rout, especially on October 24 last year when the Minister passed derogatory remarks against the Dalit community at a public meeting at Paradip by stating, “Where is God Ram Chandra and where is Rama Kandara!”
“The Governor gave a patient hearing to us, assuaged our feelings and promised that he needed some more to look into the matter," said Dalit leaders Ashok Mallick and Madhabendra Gochhayat to reporters.
They said they would again meet the Governor after 15 days, and if necessary, would resort to a national-level dharna in front of the Rastrapati Bhavan in New Delhi for redressal of their long-pending grievances.