Joining the controversy over the house and plot allotment scam under the discretionary quota, Excise Minister Damodar Rout on Saturday ruffled Rajya Sabha BJD member Kalpataru Das’ feather by asking Das how his wife herself is a separate family.
Normally family consists of husband and wife, said Rout, adding, “Adult son can be part of a separate family, but how wife can be separated from a family.”The persons apply for plots and houses under the discretionary quota should clarify in their affidavits that they don’t possess any land or house in Bhubaneswar. If they breach the rule, they would be responsible for that, he added.
Meanwhile, Das pooh-poohed Rout’s comment by stating that his (Das’) definition of family and possession of houses was technically and legally correct. “Persons like Rout’s stature should not issue such comments on me,” he added.Notably, the State Assembly witnessed uproarious scenes during last three days over the alleged involvement of Minister Sanjay Dasburma in the illegal construction of an apartment and the allocation of a number of plots and houses to the family members of Das under the discretionary quota in violation of the rule.