India states go on alert for today’s shutdown
‘Bharat bandh’ call is given to counter similar action by Dalits on April 2
India has asked all states and union territories to beef up security and take precautionary measures to prevent any untoward incident during today’s ‘Bharat Bandh’ (India shutdown) called by some groups to protest caste-based reservation in education and jobs.
The shutdown call was given by ‘Sarv Samaj’ through the social media, apparently to counter the April 2 bandh held by Dalits (underprivileged caste) to protest the alleged dilution of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Eleven people were killed in widespread violence during the April 2 agitation.
The ministry has advised the states to make appropriate arrangements, including issuing prohibitory orders, to prevent any untoward incident.
“States have been asked to intensify patrolling in all sensitive locations, so as to prevent any loss of life or damage to property,” the advisory said.
Astrike by Dalits, the ‘backward’ castes in India’s caste hierarchy, in protest against a recent directive by the country’s apex court which allegedly dilutes the law that protects them, brought life to a near-standstill in Kerala yesterday.
The Supreme Court of India had recently issued a guideline against the “misuse” of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
The court clarified that “we are not against the Act at all but innocents can’t be punished on [a] unilateral version [of events],” but the Dalits went on a nationwide strike last week, leading to violence and loss of lives in multiple states.
Inquiry demanded
They say that the guideline dilutes the protection given to them under the Act.
Amid protests across Kerala yesterday, most educational institutions remained closed, examinations were postponed, public transport was not available, and even private vehicles faced the wrath of protesters.
The key demand of the protesters was a judicial inquiry into the police firing and loss of lives during the nationwide Dalit protest over the same issue last week. In the state capital, protesters blocked the entrance of the Kerala State Transport Corporation bus station, and police intervened to remove them. KSRTC buses that attempted to conduct services were blocked in different places, including Palakkad.
In south Kerala, there were incidents of stone pelting at KSRTC buses in Valappad, Sasthamcotta and Karunagappally. A bus driver in Thrissur was injured in the stone-pelting.
In Kochi, protesters blocked the north overpass, and police took into custody several people including Adivasi leader, M. Geethanandan.
Blockades
In Kozhikode and Kannur, protesters blocked vehicles, and in Kottayam, KSRTC services were temporarily suspended after protesters stopped vehicles from plying.
Road blockades were witnessed in almost all districts of the state, and there was commotion in the Chana market in the state capital where protesters tried to forcibly close the sprawling vegetables and provisions market.
Yesterday’s strike was led by the Dalit-Adivasi Action Council, which has several affiliates including the Adivasi Gothra Mahasabha, the Dalit Human Rights Movement, Bahujan Samaj Party, Kerala Cheraman Sanghom, and Sambavar Mahasabha.