Several Dalit organisations have called a ‘Bharat Bandh’ on Monday against the alleged dilution of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
The Supreme Court had on March 20 diluted the provisions of the SC and the ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, in a bid to protect honest public servants discharging bona fide duties from being blackmailed with false cases under the Act.
The apex court had said government servants should not be arrested without prior sanction and private citizens too should be arrested only after an inquiry under the law.
But Dalit organisations, including the Dalit Shoshan Mukti Manch, and some political parties fear this dilution of the provisions might lead to increase in violence against Dalits.
According to media reports, the Centre will file a review petition in the top court on Monday, .
“Review petition by the Government against the SC judgement on SC/ST Protection Act shall be filed positively on Monday, April 2,” Law Minister Ravishankar Prasad said Sunday night.
Protests in Bihar
Angry protesters have reportedly blocked railway tracks at many places in Bihar.
With posters, banners and flags, supporters of the Bhim Army and other Dalit organisations halted over a dozen long-distance trains, as a result of which passengers were stranded at Patna, Gaya, Jehanabad, Bhagalpur, Ara, Darbhanga, Araria, Nalanda and Hajipur railway stations.
At some places, the protesters have also blocked national and state highways.
In Patna, hundreds of Bhim Army workers took to the streets to protest and enforce a shutdown.
“In several localities in Patna, supporters of the Bhim Army forced shops to close and blocked roads by burning tyres,” said a district police official.
According to reports, the protests were supported by the opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal and Left parties.
Of Bihar’s total 10.5 crore population, scheduled castes account for 15.5 lakh.
Early pics from #BharatBandh has started coming.
My facebook wall is filled with live videos of protestors all across the country.
I guess this would be one of the biggest protest in history of country.#SCSTAct pic.twitter.com/EFquYFK1BH— Devashish Jarariya (@jarariya91) April 2, 2018
Punjab on high alert
In the wake of the ‘Bharat Bandh’, Punjab, which has the largest share of Dalits in its total population across the country, has been put on high alert with hundred of security personnel deployed ahead of a protest. Internet services in the state have been suspended since 5 pm on Sunday and will continue till 11 pm today.
The security has been stepped up in Punjab, particularly in Jalandhar, Kapurthala, Nawanshahr and Hoshiarpur.
The CBSE has postponed class 12 and class 10 examinations scheduled to be held today in Punjab at the request of the state government.
The state government has also taken a decision to keep all schools shut for the day. The next date of the examinations in Punjab will be announced soon by the board.
An official spokesperson of the Punjab government in Chandigarh said the public transport services across the state have been suspended in view of the bandh call.
Reports said that some protesters tried to stop a train in Amritsar district on Monday morning but relented later following talks with railway officials.
Shops, educational institutions and other establishments remained closed.
(With inputs from agencies)