Activists of the Khatik Sena, a caste group, today took out a protest march and staged demonstration at Parliament Street against the alleged dilution of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act through a Supreme Court order.
"The reality is that the SC/ST Act is not being implemented properly in majority of cases. Its dilution will further marginalised members of Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) communities in the country," said Sanjay Raj, president of the Khatik Sena.
Khatik communities are included in the SC category in several states including Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Maharashtra.
The Centre yesterday moved a plea in the Supreme Court seeking to review the March 20 verdict putting safeguards on arrest under the stringent SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
The apex court, however, asserted that "no provisions of the SC/ST Act have been diluted" and refused to keep in abeyance the verdict.
The verdict is being widely criticised by Dalit groups and the Opposition parties who claim that the "dilution" of the Act will lead to more discrimination and crimes against the community.
Disclaimer: No Business Standard Journalist was involved in creation of this content
