In the last four years, the government has come under fire from various Dalit groups and individuals. There have been two major anti-government mobilisations. These include a major protest in Una, Gujarat, in July 2016 after a group of Dalits were beaten up by cow vigilantes and the nationwide protests that erupted after the death of Dalit scholar Rohith Vemula at Hyderabad central university in January 2016. The move to amend the Act is significant because BJP under Modi has made concerted efforts to change the social and political base of the party and to reach out to the poor and marginalised sections of society. The political success of this exercise has helped the BJP retain its dominance nationally and also form the government in most of the states. This change in the socio-political base would again be tested in the Lok Sabha polls scheduled for next year.