Politics heat up over ruling on SC/ST Act

New Delhi: Amid growing concerns among the SC/ST communities over dilution of the provisions of arrest in the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act by the Supreme Court, ruling NDA’s SC/ST MPs, led by Union ministers Ramvilas Paswan and Thawarchand Gehlot on Wednesday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi to raise the issue.

Meanwhile, Opposition leaders, led by Congress president Rahul Gandhi, met President Ram Nath Kovind on the same issue. Mr Gandhi said that the dilution of arrest provisions in the SC/ST Act comes in the backdrop of “growing” atrocities on dalits and tribals across the country. The delegation of Opposition parties, which had members of Congress, BSP, NCP, CPI(M), SP and DMK, also handed over a memorandum to Mr Kovind.

While Mr Paswan’s outfit, LJP, which is part of the NDA, has filed a review petition in the apex court against its earlier order, even BJP’s SC/ST MPs want the government to file a review petition against the judgment. Mr Paswan said that the NDA MPs are confident that the government will take appropriate action in the matter.

Union minister and RPI(A) chief Ramdas Athawale was also part of the delegation that met the Prime Minister and held a press conference with Mr Paswan after the meeting. Mr Athawale  said all the MPs from SC and ST communities are confident that the government will take appropriate action in the matter.

“It was a good and elaborate discussion with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the Supreme Court judgement on the SC/ST atrocities act. Modi-ji listened to us and heard our concerns,” Mr Paswan said. He added that the delegation also raised the demand for reservation for SCs and STs in private sector and also in promotions in the public sector.

Meanwhile, Mr Gehlot has written to Union law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad recently about a review plea against the Supreme Court verdict. He noted that there are worries that the order will make the law “ineffective” and adversely impact the dispensation of justice to dalits and tribals.

Later in the day, leaders of various Opposition parties raised the issue with President Ram Nath Kovind and sought his intervention. They also submitted a memorandum which stated, “There is a great unease and a feeling of insecurity amongst the members of the Dalit community and other oppressed classes after the said judgment was delivered. If immediate steps are not taken by the government, then we are afraid this may turn into something not less than a national disaster.”

Mr Gandhi said that the President “was quite positive and supportive” and will assess and take relevant action on the issue raised by them.

“Atrocities against dalits are increasing and the Act is being weakened. So, the President was quite positive in supporting this,” Mr Gandhi told reporters after the meeting.