TAP TO UNMUTE Ram Vilas Paswan

New Delhi: A day after the Bharat Bandh protests called by Dalit organisations opposing the Supreme Court's order 'diluting' the SC/ST (Provision of Atrocities) Act turned violent resulting in the deaths of 12 people, Union Minister and Dalit leader Ram Vilas Paswan admitted that the "government had made a mistake". He added that the information regarding the work undertaken by the government for the betterment of Dalits "was getting lost before reaching the people.

Speaking to Times Now's Senior Editor Megha Prasad, Paswan stated that the government's intention was only to serve the citizens. He said, 'We admit that there has been a mistake by the government. Whatever is being done by the government is not reaching the people."

Explaining the rationale behind the opposition for the apex court order, Paswan said, "According to the act, the court cannot grant bail. How can the court then change the act? Court has gone out of its jurisdiction in attempting to change Section 18. The court has no powers to change it." Dilution of SC/ST Act: Was 'Bharat Bandh' protest 'sponsored and incited'? Facebook posts reveal 'BSP link'

Earlier in the day, the Supreme Court said that there will not be a stay on the March 20 verdict of the apex court that allegedly 'diluted' the provisions of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe Prevention of Atrocities Act. Hearing the review petition by the centre, the apex court cited that it's March 20 verdict was not against the SC/ST Act and that the said order which 'diluted' the SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act was aimed at ensuring that innocents are not punished.

"People who are agitating have not read the verdict properly and have been misled by vested interests," the court said. In the run-up to the hearing, the Supreme Court made it clear that it has taken into consideration the potential misuse of the Act due to the arbitrary powers of the police or law enforcement agencies. "We are not against the Act. The innocent should not be punished. Provisions of SC/ST Act cannot be used to terrorise the innocents. We have not diluted any provision of SC/ST Act and only safeguarded the interest of innocents from being arrested," the court said.

Yesterday, the nation witnessed mayhem in several parts of North India as the Dalit organisations protested against the dilution of the SC/ST Act. At least nine people were killed and scores others were injured in the agitation that spiralled out of control.

Meanwhile, a mob tried to storm the residence of Madhya Pradesh minister Lal Singh Arya in Bhind district in Rajasthan today, police said, a day after violence erupted in the state during a nationwide bandh called by Dalit outfits. Arya, a Dalit, was not home when the incident took place. The police blamed anti-social elements over the incident. However, the BJP minister accused the Opposition Congress of attempting to attack his house.

(With agency inputs)

