PCC SC wing demands arrest of Damodar Rout

--demands action against police for beating dalit workers on Sep 6 Cong rally

BHUBANESWAR: The State Pradesh Congress Committee’s SC wing chairman Ripunath Seth on Thursday submitted a memorandum to National Commission for Schedule Caste chairperson Dr PL Punia demanding the arrest of Health Minister Damodar Rout who publicly insulted dalit community at Paradip and stringent action against the police personnel for beating the dalit workers in Congress’s September 6 rally here.

The members of the PCC’s SC wing informed Punia about the FIR that has been filed by Manoj Patra in Paradeep police station against the State Health Minister Rout for insulting dalit community at a public function in Paradip. They even informed about Rout’s earlier anti-dalit remarks in a public meeting and a case is pending against him in the court of law, in which High court granted him conditional bail.

The members also demanded stringent action against the police personnel who had assaulted the dalit workers during Congress’s rally on September 6 here. Many dalit leaders of various organisations of the State had given their signature in the memorandum submitted to Punia here.