Amid growing concerns over the Supreme Court’s 20 March judgment diluting provisions in the Scheduled Castes / Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act 1989, the leaders of several Opposition parties, led by Congress president Rahul Gandhi, met President Ram Nath Kovind at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Wednesday evening to apprise him of such concerns and seek his intervention in the matter.

They maintained that the apex court’s verdict has sparked a “feeling of insecurity among Dalits and tribals” across the country.

Earlier in the day, a delegation of the ruling BJP-led NDA’s Dalit and tribal MPs ~ led by Minister and LJP chief Ram Vilas Paswan, Social Justice Minister Thawarchand Gehlot, and Minister and RPI-A leader Ramdas Athawale ~ met Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss their concerns on the apex court’s judgment.

A slew of parties have been protesting on the issue, demanding that the Modi government must seek a review of the apex court judgment or bring necessary amendments in the law. The Congress and other Opposition parties have also castigated the Modi government for “failing” to defend this law in the apex court.

Speaking to media persons after handing over their memorandum to President Kovind along with leaders of BSP, CPI-M, NCP, SP, DMK and other parties, Gandhi said:”We met the President on the dilution of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act…The atrocities (on Dalits and tribals) are increasing and the Act is being diluted. The President was quite positive and supportive.”

On the President’s response, Gandhi said, “He will assess and will take relevant action”. BSP leader Satish Misra said the delegation told the President that the issue was allegedly not represented by the Modi government effectively which, he charged, had led to the current situation.

The Opposition leaders’ memorandum reportedly said, “There is a great unease and a feeling of insecurity amongst the members of Dalit community and other oppressed classes” in the wake of the apex court’s 20 March judgment and “if immediate steps are not taken by the government, then we are afraid, this may turn into something not less than a national disaster”.

The memorandum slammed the BJP-led government, stating the apex court’s verdict came at a time when Dalits and vulnerable communities have increasingly been facing distress and atrocities across the country.

In its 20 March judgment, a Supreme Court Bench of Justices A K Goel and U U Lalit noted “instances of abuse” of the SC/ST Act by “vested interests” for political or personal reasons, stipulating stringent safeguards such as provisions for anticipatory bail and a “preliminary enquiry” before registering a case under this law.

The NDA delegation was reportedly assured by the PM that his government was committed to the welfare and development of Dalits and tribals.