The National Commission for SC (NCSC) has issued notice to the State Chief Secretary to appear in person before the commission on May 24 for a discussion over the alleged derogatory remarks against a section of the society made by Excise and Cooperation Minister Damodar Rout.
The complaint has been filed by National Confederation of Dalit Organisations (NACDOR) State president Ashok Kumar Mallick.
Earlier on February 12, the NCSC had issued notice to the Chief Secretary for submission of an action-taken report (ATR) in connection with the remarks made by Damodar Rout at Kujang on August 18, 2010, for which a case was pending before the JMFC, Kujang. Disappointed over the inaction on the part of the State Government, the commission issued the direction to the Chief Secretary to appear in person for a threadbare discussion over the issue.
The State Government is put into an embarrassing situation owing to the alleged demeanour of a Minister, who preaches sermons and practises the opposite, said a ruling BJD leader.
It is difficult to understand the eerie silence of Chief Minister and party supremo Naveen Patnaik towards such acts of indiscipline on the part of the Minister, he added.