Supreme Court’s SC/ST Act ruling: Top developments

Source – indiatimes.com

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court today refused to keep in abeyance its March 20 verdict while hearing a review petition filed by the Centre against the apex court’s order putting in place certain safeguards on arrests under the SC/ST Act.
Notwithstanding the top court’s verdict, protesters continued with their agitation for the second day. Normal life was thrown out of gear in more than 10 states, most of them BJP-ruled, with widespread violence during the protests called by Dalit organisations yesterday with poll-bound Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan bearing the maximum brunt.

* SC refuses to keep SC/ST verdict in abeyance
“Innocents cannot be terrorized by the provisions of the SC/ST Act and their fundamental rights need to be protected. We don’t want to deprive anyone from right to life and we make ourselves very clear that we are not against the Act or the complainants,” a bench of justices Adarsh Kumar Goel and UU Lalit said during the hearing of the review petition.
* However, the SC admitted the Centre’s review petition and said it will reconsider its March 20 judgment at a hearing 10 days later.
* The death toll from Yesterday’s violence rose to 11 after two more persons succumbed to their injuries in Madhya Pradesh. Four deaths were reported from Bhind, three from Gwalior and one from Morena district.
* A case was registered against a BJP worker, Raja Chauhan, for firing during a protest in Madhya Pradesh’s Gwalior during the protest. Chauhan was allegedly captured in camera for firing at the people during the protest here.
* A mob comprising nearly 5,000 people set ablaze the houses of sitting MLA Rajkumari Jatav and former MLA Bharosilal Jatav in Hindaun, District Collector, Karauli, Abhimanyu Kumar. While Rajkumari Jatav is from the ruling BJP, Bharosilal Jatav is a former Congress legislator who had also served as a minister in the state.
* BJP President Amit Shah lashed out at the Congress and other opposition parties over their allegations of weakening the SC/ST Act and assured that the Union government will protect every right of the Dalit community.
“Modi government’s commitment to fulfilling Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar’s vision is unwavering. All the efforts of the government are aimed at transforming the lives of Dalits. We will continue our efforts to make our Dalit sisters and brothers the makers of New India. We will fulfil their aspirations and dreams. Jai Bhim! Jai Hind!” he said.
* Congress president Rahul Gandhi 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 Act at a public meeting during the fifth leg of his tour of the poll-bound Karnataka.
“Rohit Vemula is murdered. Dalits are beaten up in Una (Gujarat) but the Prime Minister does not speak a word on it. Atrocities on Dalits and tribals are increasing and the SC/ST act has been diluted. Modi prefers not to speak a word,” he said.
* UP Deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya accused BSP chief Mayawati of instigating the violence.
“Govt has filed a review petition. I want to ask Mayawati Ji – What is the basis for holding such a protest before court verdict? Why does she want to promote anarchy in UP?” asked Maurya.
* Mayawati condemned the violent protests which marred the agitation.

“I support the protest against the SC/ST Act. I have got to know that some people are spreading violence during the protests, I strongly condemn it. Our party is not behind the violence during the protests,” she said while interacting with media.
* Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and RS member Sanjay Singh, in a letter to PM Narendra Modi, urged him to discuss the Act in both the Houses of the Parliament.

“The SCs and the STs had got an effective weapon for security in the form of the SCs and STs Act, which will become weak after the Honourable SC’s decision. It is the duty of the Parliament and government to protect a law that has been enacted by the parliament. Hence, the government should hold a discussion in both the Houses of the Parliament and decide to keep provisions of the SC/ST Act intact,” Singh wrote.
* “The Centre should take a sympathetic view on the ongoing agitation launched by Dalits,” Telangana chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao said. The CM said the country should stand by Dalits, who, he said, have been economically, socially and politically suppressed for generations together.