Farmers call for ‘Bharat Bandh’ on February 16; ‘rail roko’ observed in Punjab
Meanwhile, the farm leaders will hold talk with Union ministers Piyush Goyal, Arjun Munda and Nityananad Rai, for the third time in a row, in Chandigarh
The Union Ministry of Home Affairs has issued an advisory to all states to take necessary precautionary measures in view of calls on social media by some groups for a Bharat Bandh on Tuesday by various anti-reservation groups to protest clashes during the SC/ST Bharat Bandh held on 2 April.
The MHA advised the states to beef up security and make appropriate arrangements, including issue of prohibitory orders to prevent any untoward incident. It has asked for intensification of patrolling in all sensitive locations so as to prevent any threat to life or damage to property.
The advisory stressed that District Magistrates and Superintendents of Police be made personally responsible for ensuring that law and order
situation remains firmly under control in the areas of their jurisdiction.
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Maximum efforts to “dilute” the SC/ST Act were made during the Congress rule at the Centre, RPI (Athawale) leader Avinash Mahatekar today said. He also ridiculed the Congress for its day-long token fast against the Modi government.
“The cases in which Dalits and Muslims were victims were purposefully delayed (for trial) by the then Congress government,” Mahatekar said in a statement. The Rahul Gandhi-led party started speaking about the welfare of Dalits and Muslims only after it lost power, said the RPI (Athawale) leader, whose party is an ally of the BJP.
The SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act hogged much limelight after a recent Supreme Court ruling, which was seen as a “dilution” of the stringent legislation.
The apex court had ruled government servants should not be arrested without prior sanction and private citizens, too, be arrested only after an inquiry under the law. Opposing the verdict, several Dalit outfits had called for a ‘Bharat bandh’ last week.
Commenting on the token fast, Mahatekar sarcastically said, “Congress leaders reached the venue (in Mumbai) late. It looks like they were joining the fast after having a heavy brunch.”
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