BHUBANESWAR: The row over reasons for the resignation of senior BJD leader Damodar Rout from the Cabinet in May continued with the former minister raising the issue again in the Assembly on Tuesday. How could a person who lost confidence of the Chief Minister from 2009 continue in the Cabinet and make two foreign trips in that capacity, Rout asked and requested Speaker Pradip Amat to allow him to make a statement on his privilege notice against Revenue Minister Surya Narayan Patro. Stating that Patro’s statement on his resignation has given rise to a constitutional crisis, Rout said that during these two years he was privy to all the important and confidential documents of the Government. Rout moved a privilege notice against Patro saying his rights as a legislator had been hurt due to the Minister’s remarks in the House on Saturday . When Rout wanted to speak more on the subject, the Speaker disallowed him to make a statement. The privilege notice is under my examination, he said. As Congress and BJP leaders backed Rout’s plea and said according to the rule, the former minister should be allowed to speak and present his version before a decision on admissibility of his privilege notice is taken. With Leader of the Opposition Bhupinder Singh, Opposition Chief Whip Prasad Harichandan and BJP Legislature Party leader KV Singhdeo pressing for permission to Rout to speak, several BJD members objected saying the House has to discuss many important issues and Opposition members need not plead for Rout.
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