New Delhi: The Dalit Organizations want to leave no stone un-turned in their efforts to make it sure that the SC/ST (Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes) Act makes its way to the Apex Court for a review. As part of their efforts, the have started large scale protests across the country. To begin with, demonstrations are being carried on in Punjab and many other states. The have called for a countrywide shutdown or Bharat Bandh.

As per the reports, massive security arrangements have been made across Punjab due to the fact that the largest dalit population comes from the northern state. Schools and public transport were shut down amid the protests. Mobile internet services are also under suspension till 11 pm today over security related issues. The Chief Minister of Punjab has called for calm and requested the army to be on stand-by.

Below are the points to be noted amid the current Bharat Bandh announced against Supreme Court’s order on SC/ST Act:

• The Punjab government beefed up security in Jalandhar, Kapurthala, Nawanshahr and Hoshiarpur which have the highest Dalit population
• Class 10 and 12 CBSE board exams have been cancelled in the state; new dates will be announced soon. Banks and offices are shut today in Punjab.
• In the states of Bihar and Odisha, protesters have blocked railway tracks in several areas. Protests have been reported in West Bengal capital, Kolkata as well.
• Protests have sprung up as per reports from Hapur in Uttar Pradesh, where people are attempting to block the highway
• The shutdown has been called by various Dalit groups against the Supreme Court’s ruling on March 20 that they claim goes out rightly against the welfare of people bracketed under Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) categories.
• The government today will file a review petition as per the demand by the organisations in the Supreme Court today, Law Minister Ravishankar Prasad tweeted last night, “Review petition by the Government against the SC judgement on SC/ST Protection Act shall be filed positively on Monday, April 2.”
• Congress President Rahul Gandhi on March 28 tweeted, “On the one hand, atrocities against Dalits are increasing and, on the other, their biggest weapon against atrocities is being diluted.”
• Central ministers Ram Vilas Paswan, Thawar Chand Gehlot, Jual Oram Ramdas Athawale, Arjun Ram Meghwal spoke up against any attempts to dilute the SC/ST Act.
• A delegation of Dalit ministers and lawmakers led by Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan had met Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss over Supreme Court’s order, on March 28
• Leaders of several opposition parties met President Ram Nath Kovind and demanded his intervention. The SC/ST Act protects the marginalized communities against any kind of discrimination and atrocities.

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