Bharat Bandh: Protests erupt across India







Autoplay Autoplay 1 of 9 Strike across India A number of Dalit organizations are holding strike across India on Monday to protest against alleged dilution of the SC/ST Act. Bike set on fire A bike set on fire by a group of protesters during 'Bharat Bandh' call given by Dalit organisations against the alleged dilution of Scheduled Castes / Scheduled Tribes Act, in Ghaziabad. ​Protesters block railway track Protesters squatted on tracks in several places outside Delhi, stopping trains, including the Dehradun Express and the Ranchi Rajdhani, to enforce an all India shutdown against the dilution of the SC/ST Act. ​Train services disrupted Services were disrupted when a mob arrived at the Ghaziabad yard around 10 am today. Many trains were stopped ahead of Ghaziabad in Meerut and Modinagar. People protest in Amritsar Security has been stepped up in Punjab even as schools are closed and buses off the road. CBSE has decided to postpone all Class 12 and 10 examinations scheduled in Punjab.



In pic: People stage protest during 'Bharat Bandh' in Amritsar.

Nine persons were killed and many injured in violence on Monday as Dalit protesters blocked trains, clashed with police and set vehicles on fire in several states during a nationwide bandh against the dilution of the SC/ST Act Supreme Court on Tuesday agreed to an open court hearing on Centre's review petition over judgement on SC/ST Act.The violent protests on Monday hit life across the country with some states ordered closure of educational institutions and curtailed communication and transport services, including rail, incidents of arson and vandalism were reported from Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Utar Pradesh, Bihar and Punjab, among other states.Hundreds of protesters carrying swords, sticks, baseball bats and flags forced shopkeepers and other establishments to shut down in several cities of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Delhi, Odisha and Jharkhand. There were also reports of shooting, arson and clashes with police forces.While six people were killed in crossfiring in Madhya Pradesh alone, two died in Uttar Pradesh and one in Rajasthan. Curfew was imposed in several places and hundreds were detained.The Army and paramilitary forces were also put on standby in Punjab. Normal life was affected in several parts of Bihar, Odisha, Maharashtra and Gujarat too.Dalit activist Ashok Bharti’s message on WhatsApp for Bharat Bandh against the dilution of the SC/ST Act is under the scanner of the intelligence agencies that are intensely monitoring the spread of agitation through e-platforms.Political leaders like Mayawati and Mamata Banerjee expressed themselves on the prevailing agitation. Taking a dig at PM Modi, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee said that the Dalits continue to be deprived of their basic rights under the Modi government. Former Uttar Pradesh CM Mayawati strongly supported the agitation led by Dalit. She went on to say, "I support the protest against the SC/ST Act. I have got to know that some people spread violence during the protests, I strongly condemn it. Our party is not behind the violence during the protests".The Union home ministry walked a tightrope to contain the damages, even as it issued advisory and offered paramilitary assistance to contain violence.The ministry was also policing the social media to identify brains behind the mass protests that rattled the national capital too.Jaibhagwan Jatav, a former chief patron of Bhim Army and president of Rashtriya Soshit Parishad, acknowledged to ET that the social media tools were instrumental in gathering unprecedented support for the bandh. “No one knows who organised it,” he said.The Dalit leader said the community was not happy with the government seeking a review of the Supreme Court judgement. “Why can’t they bring a legislation in parliament to overrule the SC judgement?” Jatav said.The Dalit groups are protesting against a March 20 order of a two-judge bench of the Supreme Court on Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. SC had removed restrictions on granting anticipatory bail and imposed a condition that a public servant could be prosecuted only after obtaining permission from higher authorities.Dalit groups claim that this adverse order would not have been given if the Centre had represented the NCRB comparative data properly.It has filed a review petition before Supreme Court contending:a) It will defeat object of the law i.e., protecting the marginalisedb) Dilute the rigour of law, making it toothlessc) Reduce the deterrent factord) Make weaker sections more vulnerablee) Piece of affi rmative, beneficial law whose validity has been earlier upheld* Protesters block trains in Punjab, Odisha, Rajasthan.*Shops, educational institutions and other establishments remained closed in Punjab. The final practical examinations of Class 10 and 12 of Punjab School Education Board, which were scheduled to be held on Monday, will now be held on April 11.* The Centre will file a review petition today against the Supreme Court’s order, in which it had puts an end to immediate arrests in complaints filed under the SC/ST Act provisions.*Of course a review petition(SC/ST Act) should be filed. (But) the basic question is to why they were unable to present the case properly before SC and lost, inquiry needed: Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Congress leader* In the review petition drafted by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, the Centre is likely to contend that the order will weaken the provisions of the Act, thereby reducing the fear of law, which may result in more violations.* The government had come under attack from Opposition demanding a review or bring an amendment to undo the Supreme Court’s ruling.* Apex Court had banned automatic arrests and registration of criminal cases under the said Act. The ruling emphasised on holding a preliminary inquiry before arrest. The judgement had underlined the misuse of certain provisions of the Act for “vested interests”.* However, dalit organisations and some political parties fear the dilution of the provisions of the Act might lead to increase in violence against Dalits.* Congress will organise a demonstration on April 4 at Parliament Street against the verdict and the atrocities committed against dalits in different parts of the country.