NCP MP wants Atrocity Act to be scrapped

Differences are simmering within the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) over the Atrocity Act. Its Satara MP Udayanraje Bhosale has openly challenged the party leadership by saying the Act should be scrapped in toto. His comments are in stark contrast to NCP chief Sharad Pawar’s viewpoint that the Act be changed, instead of total abolition.

Speaking in his hometown Satara, Mr Bhosale, who is a descendant of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, said that since 90 per cent crimes registered under the Atrocity Act are bogus, it should be scrapped totally.

When asked why Mr Pawar has pushed for changes in the Atrocity Act, the Satara MP said, “I don’t want to comment on who says what.” However he further said suggestively, “Wherever you have reached today is because of the community, the community is not there because of you. You will never know when the community will disown you.”

Mr Bhosale has his differences with the party leadership over the Atrocity Act, which is called as SC And The ST (Prevention Of Atrocities) Act, 1989.

After initially demanding scrapping of the Atrocity Act, Mr Pawar had later done a U-turn by saying it was being misused by upper caste people only to settle their own squabbles. “People will teach a lesson to those who are taking a U-turn on the Atrocity Act,” said Mr Bhosale. Demanding that Maratha community should be given reservation, he also vowed to participate in the morcha organised by Maratha community in Satara on September 11.