The Aam Aadmi Party and BJP today appeared to be on the same page in opposing the Supreme Court's ruling "diluting" the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
Delhi Chief Minister and AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal said the "fundamental intent" of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act should be preserved and demanded that the Centre appoint prominent lawyers to effectively take up the matter in the Supreme Court.
Leader of Opposition Vijender Gupta said the BJP "doesn't support" the court's ruling and demanded that like the Centre, the Delhi government should also intervene in the matter in the apex court.
Later, members of the AAP and the BJP opposed the apex court's decision in the Delhi Assembly.
The AAP chief had earlier tweeted, "Under the situation resulting due to the Supreme Court's decision on SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act, the AAP is with the movement of SC/ST community."
"The central government should deploy top lawyers for the petition in the Supreme Court and the need and fundamental intent of the act should be preserved," he said.
Violent protests erupted today during a nationwide bandh called by Dalit outfits against the "dilution" of the act, leaving one person dead and many injured in Madhya Pradesh and disrupting normal life in many states.
The Centre today moved the Supreme Court seeking review of its recent judgement by which safeguards were put on the provisions for immediate arrest under the act.
Later in the day, AAP MLA Rakhi Birla moved a calling attention motion on the issue in the House and both the ruling AAP and the opposition BJP members opposed the Supreme Court's decision on the legislation.
Social Welfare Minister Rajendra Pal Gautam and most of AAP Dalit MLAs, including Vishesh Ravi, Manoj Kumar, and Ajay Dutt, wore black bands in the House to register their protest.
During discussion in the House, AAP legislators demanded that the apex court should review its decision.
Asked about violence in the country, the Delhi social welfare minister said, "There should be no space for violence. We condemn such incidents."
Vijender Gupta also highlighted the absence of Cabinet ministers except Social Welfare Minister Rajender Pal Gautam in the House during the discussion over the situation arising out of the SC's ruling.
"If other ministers would be present in the House, discussion on the issue would be fruitful," Gupta said.
Another BJP MLA Jagdish Pradhan said, "I support Rakhi Birla's proposal (calling attention motion) on Supreme Court Ruling on SC/ST (Prevention and Atrocities) Act 1989. I oppose the Supreme Court's decision."
The apex court had on March 20 "diluted" certain provisions of the act, in a bid to protect 'honest' public servants discharging bona fide duties from being blackmailed with false cases under the Act.
The verdict is being widely criticised by the Dalits and the opposition who claim that the dilution of the act will lead to more discrimination and crimes against the backward community.
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