The Congress and the Left parties today blamed the Centre for the violence during protests by Dalit bodies against the alleged dilution of the SC/ST Act and accused it of not representing the case properly in the Supreme Court.
Congress President Rahul Gandhi slammed the RSS and the BJP for the plight of Dalits.
"It is in the DNA of the RSS/BJP to keep Dalits at the lowest level in Indian society. Any one who challenges this thought is crushed with violence.
"Our Dalit brothers and sisters are today on the streets demanding protection of their rights from the Modi Government. We salute them," he said on Twitter.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee appealed for peace. "We are shocked and pained that some of my Dalit brothers and sisters have been killed and injured. We support their cause. I appeal for peace."
The CPI(M) condemned the violence resulting in deaths of agitators and accused the central government of failing to present an effective case on the issue in the court.
In a statement, it said the response to the call for a 'Bharat bandh' by various Dalit organisations had been widespread in states like Punjab, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha and Uttar Pradesh.
"This shows the anger against the Supreme Court's decision to dilute the SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act", it said.
The party claimed that the situation had arisen because of the failure of the Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre.
"The politburo condemns the brutal police firing which has led to the death of four people in Gwalior, Bhind and Morena in BJP ruled Madhya Pradesh. In many other places, there have been attacks by police on protesters. One person has died in Alwar, Rajasthan," the statement alleged.
The CPI also condemned the violence and demanded adequate compensation to the families of victims and punishment for the police officials who, it alleged, carried out the attacks.
Senior Congress leaders Ghulam Nabi Azad and Mallikarjun Kharge held the central government responsible for the loss of lives and damage to properties during violent protests by Dalits.
Addressing a joint press conference, they accused the Centre of taking the issue "lightly" saying neither the Attorney General nor his deputy appeared in the case that led to the dilution of the SC/ST Act. They alleged that the government did not put across the point of view of the Dalit community effectively before the apex court.
Holding the Narendra Modi Government directly responsible for the weakening of the SC/ST Act, Kharge said the Centre did not have any desire to ensure welfare of SCs/STs and the underprivileged sections of society.
The two leaders demanded that the government bring an amendment in the Act or file a curative review petition in the Supreme Court to ensure that a status quo is restored.
Azad alleged that atrocities on Dalits and minorities have been on the rise ever since the NDA came to power in 2014.
The Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha said that had the government taken adequate steps to ensure that the SC/ST Act was not weakened or diluted, today's bandh could have been avoided.
He termed the bandh as a success against "the government's failure and weakness".
Both Azad and Kharge also regretted the loss of life and damage to properties during the bandh, saying the Congress never supports any violence.
"The central government is responsible for this loss in the country. If government had taken steps after March 20 when we gave them a memorandum to file a review petition, there would have been no loss of life and property. I hold the central government responsible for the loss of life and property," Azad said.
The Supreme Court on March 20 diluted the provisions of the Act and said government servants should not be arrested without prior sanction and private citizens, too, should be arrested only after an inquiry under the law.
Dalit protesters blocked trains, clashed with police and set fire to vehicles in violent protests across seven states against the alleged dilution of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, leaving at least four people dead and many injured today, officials said.
Curfew was imposed in several places and the Army was called out in Bhind district in Madhya Pradesh. The Army and paramilitary forces were also put on standby in Punjab.
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