Withdraw cases against protestors, dalit activists write to President

LUCKNOW: A group of dalit activists have sent a memorandum to the President of India demanding withdrawal of the cases lodged against dalits regarding the large scale violence that took place during ‘Bharat Bandh’ called by them on April 2.

Former IPS officer of UP cadre, SR Darapuri, also signed the memorandum.

“Cases registered against dalits after Bharat Bandh on April 2 must be withdrawn. All those arrested during the bandh call must be released immediately,” said Darapuri.

During the bandh, large scale violence took place in several places all across the country in which 11 agitators died.

Dalit activists have also requested President Ram Nath Kovind to direct the respective state government, from where deaths have been reported, to give a compensation of ₹20 lakh to the kin of the deceased.

In its March 20 verdict, the Supreme Court banned automatic arrests and registration of cases under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. It gave a direction for registration of cases under the Act only after enquiry and on orders of the superintendent of police.

“These orders of the Supreme Court take away the special constitutional rights of dalits. The Centre must bring an ordinance in Parliament to nullify the apex court’s order,” said Darapuri.

In the memorandum, the dalit activists have also demanded that tribals should be given land rights under the Forest Rights Act- 2006, which has not been implemented properly throughout the country.

Apart from this, they have also demanded that Right to Employment may be made a fundamental right and a law must be enacted to ensure reservation in the private sector.

THEY HAVE ALSO REQUESTED TO GIVE COMPENSATION OF ₹20L TO THE KIN OF THE DECEASED