SC/ST ruling: Bharat bandh hits life in Punjab, Odisha; top 10 developments
Dalit organisations across the country have called a 'Bharat bandh' today to protest a recent Supreme Court ruling diluting the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act 1989.Early in the day, movement of trains in Odisha's Sambalpur was blocked by protesters on Monday, according to reports by news agency ANI.The Bharat bandh has already brought Punjab to a standstill, as CBSE has postponed the board exams scheduled for April 2, and transport services have been suspended. Here are the top 10 developments around the so-called dilution of the
Act and the Bharat bandh called by Dalit organisations across the country: 1. CBSE postpones class 10, 12 exams in Punjab: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has postponed class 12 and class 10 examinations in Punjab scheduled to be held on Monday at the request of the state government in view of the 'Bharat Bandh'. 2. Schools to be shut in Punjab: The Punjab government has also decided to keep all schools shut for the day, the CBSE said referring to the letter of the state government. 3. Exams unaffected in rest of the country: "Exams will carry on as per schedule in UT of Chandigarh and rest of the country," CBSE said. The next date of the examinations in Punjab will be announced soon by the board, it added. 4. Transport services suspended: An official spokesperson of the Punjab government in Chandigarh said the public transport services across the state had been suspended in view of the bandh call. 5. Gehlot says SC decision will prevent justice: Union Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment Thawar Chand Gehlot on Sunday said the Centre had decided to file a review petition against the Supreme Court's decision on the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Act 1989,contending it would not be able to provide justice to the suppressed. 6. What is the point of a bandh, Pawan asks: Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan on Sunday questioned the need for an all-India bandh against the Supreme Court's ruling on the SC/ST Act, asking "What is the point of organising a Bharat Bandh? The government is positively going to file the review petition". 7. Rahul Gandhi says atrociticities against Dalits increasing: Congress President Rahul Gandhi questioned the Supreme Court's decision to water down the Act at a time when atrocities against Dalits ''are increasing''. 8. Opposition leaders meet Ram Nath Kovind: Several Opposition leaders met the President on Wednesday to communicate their postion against the SC order. They submitted a memorandum citing National Crime Records Bureau data and claimed that a crime is committed against Dalit women every 15 minutes in the country and six Dalit women were raped every day. 9. 'Dilution will embolden attacks on Dalits': DMK leader T K S
Elangovan said dilution of the Act will embolden offenders. "Media is coming out with stories on attacks on Dalits and weaker sections. 10. Supreme Court's says Act may 'perpetuate casteism': On March 20, the Supreme Court ruled that there was no absolute bar on granting an anticipatory bail under the Act.
ARTICLE SOURCE- BUSINESS STANDARD.