HC orders ban on caste-based rallies in UP

The Allahabad High Court today ordered a ban on caste-based rallies across Uttar Pradesh where major political parties regularly hold such gatherings.
"We stay caste-based rallies throughout the state of UP," the Lucknow bench of the court comprising justices Uma Nath Singh and Mahendra Dayal said on a PIL filed by a local lawyer Motilal Yadav.
The bench issued notices to central and state governments, EC, Congress, BJP, SP and BSP which have been made respondents in the PIL.
The ruling comes against the backdrop of the BSP recently organising Brahmin Bhaichara Sammelan in 40 districts of the state, including one addressed by party supremo Mayawati in Lucknow.

SP too had organised a similar event in Lucknow recently besides a Muslim Sammelan.
The PIL submitted that there was a spurt of caste-based political rallies in the state. It said political parties were organising caste-based rallies in the name of different castes like Brahmin, Kshatriya and Vaishya.
The petitioner submitted while such events were causing damage to social unity and harmony, they were also vitiating the society, which was against the spirit of the Constitution.