Nine killed as India protests turn violent
DALITS UP IN ARMS AGAINST COURT RULING UNDERMINING THEIR SECURITY
At least nine people were killed yesterday as protesters led by India’s Dalits set fire to police posts and dozens of vehicles and clashed with police in several states during a nationwide bandh (shutdown) after the Supreme Court barred the immediate arrest of people accused of discriminating against them.
Six people were killed in the central state of Madhya Pradesh, where police also imposed a curfew.
Three others were killed in other states, local media said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government submitted a review petition to the Supreme Court yesterday, asking it to amend the March 20 judgement that sparked the protests.
Thousands of protesters were arrested by police in the states of Bihar and Jharkhand.
Dalits are at the bottom of India’s ancient caste hierarchy and together with the scheduled tribes — indigenous peoples who are often isolated or disadvantaged — form about a quarter of the population.
Violence was reported from other states such as Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand and Bihar, while exams have been postponed and internet services have been shut down due to clashes in Punjab.
The central and the state governments are dedicated towards the welfare of backward castes, SC & ST. We will work out a solution.”
At least nine people were killed yesterday as protesters led by Dalits set fire to police posts and blocked railway tracks after the Supreme Court barred the immediate arrest of people accused of discriminating against them. Six people were killed in Madhya Pradesh, where police also imposed a curfew. Three others were killed in other states, local media said. Thousands of protesters were also arrested by police in the states of Bihar and Jharkhand.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government submitted a review petition to the Supreme Court yesterday, asking it to amend the March 20 judgement that sparked the protests, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said in a televised interview.
However, the Chief Justice of India declined to hear the plea. “There is no urgency to list the case immediately. We refuse to list the Public Interest Litigation [PIL] for hearing for tomorrow or day after,” the court said.
Dalits are at the bottom of India’s ancient caste hierarchy and together with the scheduled tribes —indigenous peoples who are often isolated or disadvantaged — form about a quarter of the population. Protesters carried banners demanding a nationwide shutdown, saying the judgement was diluting the law.
Expressing concern over alleged dilution of Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act by the Supreme Court, Dalits came out in heavy numbers yesterday to enforce an all-India shutdown.
Maintaining that the SC/ST Act was being misused by Dalits in certain cases, the court last week stopped immediate arrest of an accused and introduced a provision for bail. Dalits have criticised the verdict claiming that the dilution of the Act will lead to more discrimination.
Train services were hit in parts of Bihar, Punjab and Rajasthan as protesters blocked railway tracks. In Punjab, hundreds of protesters carrying swords and sticks forced shops to shut in
Yogi Adityanath | Chief Minister, UP
We have filed a review petition in the Supreme Court. I appeal to all political parties and groups to maintain peace and not incite violence.”
Rajnath Singh | Home Minister
Bathinda, Jalandhar and Amritsar. In Delhi, traffic came to a standstill as hundreds of protesters gathered at Mandi House. In Bihar, legislators from opposition parties demanded passing a resolution urging Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led union government to take adequate measures to undo the court order.
In Uttar Pradesh, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath appealed for calm. “The central and the state governments are dedicated towards the welfare of backward castes, SC & ST. We will work out a solution,” Adityanath said.
“We have filed a review petition in the Supreme Court. I appeal to all political parties and groups to maintain peace and not incite violence,” Home Minister Rajnath Singh told media.
Verdict
Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said he did not agree with the reasoning behind the verdict. “We have sought restoration of the earlier status by which any offence under the SC/ST Act was made a cognisable non-bailable offence. Let’s wait and maintain peace,” Prasad said.
After the matter could not be listed for urgent hearing, BJP leader Thawarchand Gehlot said the union government was committed to the welfare of Dalits.
“It has been our government which has further strengthened protection for backward castes by passing the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Act, 2015. Our government is not only committed to protecting the rights given to SC/ ST but is going one step ahead and holistically improving their lives. For years, they have been used as mere vote banks to form governments. We are empowering backward castes as nation builders to create a new India,” Gehlot told Gulf News.
Backing the Dalits, the Congress supported the nationwide shutdown. “Today’s Bharat Bandh is the result of this government’s failure in handling Dalit issues. People irrespective of their political affiliations came together for this cause, which is commendable,” Congress leader Malikarjun Kharge said.
Congress chief Rahul Gandhi said oppression of Dalits was in the DNA of BJP. “Keeping Dalits at the lowest rung of Indian society is in the DNA of BJP. Whoever dares challenge this position is suppressed with violence,” Gandhi tweeted.
Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati also came out in support of the protests. “BSP wants to thank the people who supported the Bharat Bandh today. We will continue our struggle,” Mayawati said.
West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee condemned the killings during the protests.