BDA allotment: Rout counters Kalpataru

BHUBANESWAR: Adding to the controversy over allotment of more than one government plot/quarters to BJD heavyweight Kalpataru Das family, excise minister Damodar Rout here on Saturday mocked at his party colleague's definition of family.
"If a son is married and stays elsewhere, he can be considered part of a separate family. But if he stays with the family and is part of the family business, how can be considered a separate family.How can wife be part of a separate family?," Rout said while reacting on Kalpataru's explanation that his wife and his MLA son Pranab Kumar Balbantaray constituted separate family units.
Rout further said anyone who violated law is guilty. "It doesn't matter if someone belongs to my party or any other," he said.
Under fire from different quarters for availing multiple immovable properties under discretionary quota, the Rajya Sabha member had said technically there is nothing wrong in the allotment as his wife and son were part of separate family units.
Responding to Rout's comments, Kalpataru on Friday said, "The minister should not have made such a comment. He should review what he said."
Kalpataru said he stood by his earlier explanations and said, "Technically my wife and son are part of separate families."