SC/ST protests: Now Bihar Dalit leader demands 'Harijanistan'; 10 updates
The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to put in abeyance its judgment banning automatic arrests without prior permissions for offences under the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, saying its March 20 order only meant to safeguard innocent people without affecting the rights of the marginalised communities.Meanwhile, curfew has been imposed in various areas of Gwalior, Bhind and Morena districts of Madhya Pradesh in the wake of violence witnessed by the state on April 2 during Bharat Bandh.The curfew, though, would be relaxed for two hours between 10 am and 12 noon, according to the police. Here are the top developments around the so-called dilution of the Act and the Bharat bandh called by Dalit organisations across the country: 1. Former Bihar minister and Dalit leader Ramai Ram on Wednesday threatened to raise
the demand of "Harijanistan" (Dalit land). "Constitutional rights of Dalits are being snatched from them and their dignity and honour hurt. 2. SC refuses to stay ST/SC Act order: The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to stay its order on Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes (SC/ST) Act. The court was hearing Central Government's review petition on Schedule Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. 3. 5,000 booked, 32 arrested for rioting in Ghaziabad: As many as 5,000 people have been booked for creating ruckus and damaging public and government properties here during protests against "dilution" of the provisions of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, the SSP said. 4. Houses of Dalit MLA, ex-MLA set afire in Rajasthan: The houses of a sitting and a former MLA, both Dalits, were set afire by a violent mob this afternoon in Rajasthan's Karauli district following which curfew was imposed in the area, a senior official said. 5. Cases of atrocities on Dalits continue to rise amid falling convictions: A Business Standard analysis shows there could be an objective basis to the growing perception that atrocities on Dalits are increasing while the conviction rate in these cases is falling. 6. Rahul Gandhi targets Modi: Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for "not uttering a word" on the alleged atrocities on Dalits and tribals and "dilution" of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. 7. Rajasthan violence: Fresh violence broke out in Rajasthan on Tuesday as a 5,000strong mob set ablaze the houses of a sitting and a former MLA, both Dalits, even as the death toll from yesterday's nationwide stir by Dalit groups rose to 11 with two more persons succumbing to their injuries in Madhya Pradesh. 8. Amit Shah defends his party's stand: Amit Shah on Monday defended his party against the Opposition's criticism regarding the Bharat Bandh and the apparent dilution of the SC/ST Act. 9. Eye on polls, Congress fuelling tension in the country over Dalit issue, says BJP: The BJP accused the Congress of "fuelling tensions" in the society with an eye on elections and urged the opposition party to tell people what it had done for the Dalits during its long rule at the Centre. 10. Kejriwal extends support to Dalits, says SC/ST (PoA) Act should be preserved: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal tweeted, "Under the situation resulting due to Supreme Court's decision on SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act, AAP is with the movement of SC/ST community.
Article source- BUSINESS STANDARD.