Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath appealed for calm following widespread violence reported from the state and across the country.
Massive protests were launched by Dalit groups against the alleged “dilution” of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.
“I appeal to all the people not to disrupt law and order with the protests in the name of Bharat Bandh,” the CM said.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at the Centre and the government in Uttar Pradesh are committed to the development of the SC/ST and marginalised societies,” he added.
Adityanath stressed that the governments at the Centre and the state are working on a war-footing for the upliftment of the Dalits.
He said that he understood the resentment in the protesters following the SC order of 20 March but added that a review petition has been filed by the Centre.
“Bring your problems to the notice of the government and the government will solve it,” Adityanath said.
Reports suggest that around nine persons have lost their lives in various states due to the violence.
One person died in western Uttar Pradesh. Reports say that around 75 persons, including 40 policemen, were injured in the violence.
The Supreme Court on 20 March banned automatic arrests and registration of criminal cases under the Act, a legislation meant to protect the marginalised communities from abuse and discrimination.