Al Jazeera News :
Dalits in India are staging nationwide protests against the Supreme Court’s ruling, which activists say will likely dilute the provisions of Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.
Thouands of people have joined peaceful protests and sit-ins as part of the Bharat Bandh, demanding the government to challenge the top court’s verdict that banned arrest and registration of cases for alleged harassment of SCs and STs.
Under the Act, passed by the government of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in 1989, the accused is denied bail.
“I tell the government that you have troubled the Dalit people and they have tolerated your harassment enough, but now you are messing with Ambedkar’s vision,” Ram Singh Pradhan from Delhi’s Pahargunj said referring to the author of India’s constitution and a Dalit icon.
“I am 88 years old, and I am ready if anyone comes forward.… This country was built by Ambedkar, this is our country. Let anyone speak against Baba Saheb Ambedkar and see the consequences. Jai Bhim,” Pradhan told Al Jazeera.
Rights activists and Dalit organisations say caste-based atrocities involve denigrating the dignity of Dalits – the former untouchables – and hence a special law is required.
Caste discrimination is outlawed but it remains widespread. A young Dalit farmer was beaten to death for owning a horse in western Gujarat state, police said on Saturday.
The body of 21-year-old Pradeep Rathod was found in a pool of blood near Timbi village late on Thursday. Police have arrested three upper caste men as part of the investigation.
According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data, the rate of crimes against Dalits, who number more than 200 million, has risen in recent years.
Dalit organisations say the Supreme Court ruling was shocking even as the conviction rate for such crimes has declined over the years.
The opposition called the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi anti-Dalit. The leader of the main opposition Congress party, Rahul Gandhi, in a twitter post said that it was in the DNA of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its ideological parent, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), to keep Dalits at the lowest rung of the society.
Under huge political pressure, the government said it would seek review of the Supreme Court order.
“Review petition by the Government against the SC judgement on SC/ST Protection Act shall be filed positively on tomorrow, Monday, April 2,” Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad tweeted.
The northern Punjab state, with sizable population of Dalits, suspended internet until 11pm on Monday and has requested the army to remain on standby, according to the Indian Express newspaper.
Protests have also been organized in the states of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Bihar and Jharkhand.
At least one person was reportedly killed in Morena district of the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh as the protest turned violent on Monday morning. Meanwhile the apex court refused for an urgent hearing on a plea for stay and review of its verdict.
Al Jazeera went to Jantar Mantar in the capital, New Delhi, where thousands of people gathered to register their protest. He spoke to some of the protesters:
Dalits in India are staging nationwide protests against the Supreme Court’s ruling, which activists say will likely dilute the provisions of Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.
Thouands of people have joined peaceful protests and sit-ins as part of the Bharat Bandh, demanding the government to challenge the top court’s verdict that banned arrest and registration of cases for alleged harassment of SCs and STs.
Under the Act, passed by the government of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in 1989, the accused is denied bail.
“I tell the government that you have troubled the Dalit people and they have tolerated your harassment enough, but now you are messing with Ambedkar’s vision,” Ram Singh Pradhan from Delhi’s Pahargunj said referring to the author of India’s constitution and a Dalit icon.
“I am 88 years old, and I am ready if anyone comes forward.… This country was built by Ambedkar, this is our country. Let anyone speak against Baba Saheb Ambedkar and see the consequences. Jai Bhim,” Pradhan told Al Jazeera.
Rights activists and Dalit organisations say caste-based atrocities involve denigrating the dignity of Dalits – the former untouchables – and hence a special law is required.
Caste discrimination is outlawed but it remains widespread. A young Dalit farmer was beaten to death for owning a horse in western Gujarat state, police said on Saturday.
The body of 21-year-old Pradeep Rathod was found in a pool of blood near Timbi village late on Thursday. Police have arrested three upper caste men as part of the investigation.
According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data, the rate of crimes against Dalits, who number more than 200 million, has risen in recent years.
Dalit organisations say the Supreme Court ruling was shocking even as the conviction rate for such crimes has declined over the years.
The opposition called the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi anti-Dalit. The leader of the main opposition Congress party, Rahul Gandhi, in a twitter post said that it was in the DNA of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its ideological parent, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), to keep Dalits at the lowest rung of the society.
Under huge political pressure, the government said it would seek review of the Supreme Court order.
“Review petition by the Government against the SC judgement on SC/ST Protection Act shall be filed positively on tomorrow, Monday, April 2,” Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad tweeted.
The northern Punjab state, with sizable population of Dalits, suspended internet until 11pm on Monday and has requested the army to remain on standby, according to the Indian Express newspaper.
Protests have also been organized in the states of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Bihar and Jharkhand.
At least one person was reportedly killed in Morena district of the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh as the protest turned violent on Monday morning. Meanwhile the apex court refused for an urgent hearing on a plea for stay and review of its verdict.
Al Jazeera went to Jantar Mantar in the capital, New Delhi, where thousands of people gathered to register their protest. He spoke to some of the protesters:
