Protests erupt all over India over SC/ST act

Incidents of stone pelting on buses were reported in north Maharashtra today as several Dalit organisations expresses their concerns over the dilution of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

The Dalit groups had called for a Bharat Bandh today demanding restoration of the Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act in its original form. “Protesters pelted stones on four state transport buses, including the Shahada-Padsalda bus, at Shahada in Nandurbar district,” a police official told PTI.

UP CM appeals to people to maintain law and order

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath today appealed to the people not to vitiate law and order, amid reports of violence in parts of western Uttar Pradesh during the ‘Bharat Bandh’ called by dalit outfits against the Supreme Court court on the SC/ST Act.

“The law and order should not be disturbed by these protests. The government is serious towards the development and progress of dalits. I appeal to them not to disturb the law and order,” Adityanath told reporters.

“Both the Centre and the state government are dedicated to the welfare of the backward castes, the scheduled castes and the scheduled tribes. If there is any issue, one can bring them to the notice of the government,” he said.