Bhubaneswar, April 5 -- The controversy surrounding remarks made by KIIT University founder Achyuta Samanta on autism intensified further with Odisha Minister for Social Security and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Nityananda Gond, strongly condemning the statements on Sunday and calling them unacceptable.

The development comes amid continuing backlash from various sections after Samanta's comments linking autism in children to deeds from a past life went viral during a World Autism Awareness Day event.

Responding to Samata's statements, Minister Nityananda Gond said he does not accept such statements and emphasised that remarks of this nature should not be made in public.

Nityananda Gond said, "Whatever he has said is unacce...