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Several Dalit groups called for Bharat Bandh on April 2. Apart from schools and colleges remaining shut in Punjab, there are ongoing protests in many other states as well. It is reported that protests have turned violent in some places, resulting in the death of four in Madhya Pradesh and trains have also been blocked at several places.
The protest is against the Supreme Court’s March 20 ruling regarding the “dilution” of Scheduled Caste/ Scheduled Tribes (SC/ST) Atrocities Act.
Violent clashes, shutting down of schools and colleges amidst protests
Punjab government as a precautionary measure ordered schools and colleges to remain shut following the bandh called by various Dalit organisations. The state government has also asked the army and paramilitary forces to remain on standby, should matters get worse. All public and private transport would also remain off road.
The Supreme Court’s ruling has led to many violent clashes in various states.
Four persons have died in Morena and Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh. Curfew has been imposed in the areas like Morena, Gwalior, Sagar and other parts.
Dalits from Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh have come out on the road to protest against the ruling. Many people including women have come down on the streets of Agra and Bharatpur to protest.
In Ahmedabad, Gujarat, men and women participated in large numbers in the protest and shouted slogans.
Posted by Dilip Darji on Sunday, April 1, 2018
In Barmer, Rajasthan, the protests have taken an ugly turn as many vehicles were torched and various public properties were destroyed.
In Ranchi, Jharkhand, violent altercations were exchanged between the protesters and the police. It is being reported that few were injured in the scuffle, however, no casualties were reported.
#WATCH #BharatBandh over SC/ST protection act: Clash between protesters and Police in Ranchi. Several people injured #Jharkhand pic.twitter.com/nYc19J6oUu
— ANI (@ANI) April 2, 2018
In Meerut, Uttar Pradesh also, various protesters were lathi charged.
#WATCH #BharatBandh over SC/ST protection act: Protesters thrashed by Police personnel in Meerut pic.twitter.com/yQfaJBDbBD
— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) April 2, 2018
In Bhind, Madhya Pradesh, protesters pelted stones.
WATCH: Protesters resort to stone pelting in Bhind during #BharatBandh over the SC/ST Protection Act. #MadhyaPradesh pic.twitter.com/40KmhV3Ckm
— ANI (@ANI) April 2, 2018
Violent protests are being reported from areas like Morena in Madhya Pradesh, Jaipur and other areas.
Trains have been blocked in several areas. Different groups, including Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) Liberation (CPI ML) activists blocked a train in Arrah, Bihar. Trains were blocked in other areas like Forbesganj junction railway station in Araria district and in Patiala, Punjab, among others.
#BharatBandh over SC/ST protection act: Protesters stop a train in Jaipur #Rajasthan pic.twitter.com/37FKjlQf3o
— ANI (@ANI) April 2, 2018
Background
On March 20, the Supreme Court issued a directive saying that action against public servants accused of hostility towards SC/ST would be taken only with written permission from the appointing authorities. Also, the action against accused private citizens would be taken only if the concerned Senior Superintendent of police allows. Besides this, the bench of Justices AK Goel and UU Lalit also ruled that a preliminary inquiry should be conducted before the FIR is registered to check if the case falls under the parameters of the Atrocities Act or if it is frivolous or motivated.
Dalit groups across the country feel that the Supreme Court’s order, which bans automatic arrest and registration of cases for alleged harassment of SCs and STs, will dilute the Prevention of Atrocities Act, 1989 which aims to protect the marginalised.
The reported “dilution” of the law was done to curb “abuse of law”. The court judgement said, “Innocent citizens are termed accused, which is not intended by the legislature. The legislature never intended to use the Atrocities Act as an instrument to blackmail or to wreck personal vengeance.”
Last week, a delegation of NDA’s SC and ST MPs, led by LJP chief Ram Vilas Paswan and Union Social Justice Minister Thawarchand Gehlot met Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss the apex court’s judgement.
Congress President, Rahul Gandhi tweeted that the party “salutes” those protesting for their rights.
दलितों को भारतीय समाज के सबसे निचले पायदान पर रखना RSS/BJP के DNA में है। जो इस सोच को चुनौती देता है उसे वे हिंसा से दबाते हैं।
हजारों दलित भाई-बहन आज सड़कों पर उतरकर मोदी सरकार से अपने अधिकारों की रक्षा की माँग कर रहे हैं।
हम उनको सलाम करते हैं।#BharatBandh
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) April 2, 2018
Appeal for maintaining law and order
Regarding the nation-wide protests, Ravi Shankar Prasad, Union Minister of Law and Justice said, as reported by The Quint, “I wish to convey that we have filed a petition on the judgement by Supreme Court on the SC/ST Protection Act today (Monday). We have filed a comprehensive review petition which will be presented before the court by the senior lawyers of the government.”
Union Minister Rajnath Singh also requested the groups and political parties to not incite violence.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, Yogi Adityanath also appealed to the protestors to maintain law and order and that the central and state government are “dedicated towards the welfare of all backward classes.”
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