Dalit party writes letter to PM Modi, President Kovind in blood against SC order

This comes even as the central government has filed a review petition against alleged dilution of SC/ST Act by the Supreme Court.

Just days after the Bharat Bandh that led to loss of at least 10 lives, members of a Dalit party have now written a letter to President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in blood over alleged dilution of Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) (Prevention of Atrocities) Act by the Supreme Court. The letter has been written by members of Bharatiya Dalit Panthers Party.

This comes even as the central government has filed a review petition in the top court. Widespread protests had also taken place on Monday in different parts of the country over the apex court order.

Normal life was thrown out of gear on Monday in more than ten states, most of them BJP-ruled, with widespread violence during the protests called by Dalit organisations with poll-bound Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan bearing the maximum brunt.

On Tuesday, the apex court had declined to stay its recent order on the SC/ST Act. On the other hand, the government maintained that it was not responsible for any dilution of the Act and said that it was fully committed to protecting the interests of the backward communities.

Speaking about the issue, PM Modi had said that no other government was as concerned about the backward classes as the incumbent government. BJP chief Amit Shah had also targeted Congress and other opposition parties, holding them responsible for the lives lost during Bharat bandh.

"When we had announced that we will file a review petition, why did the Congress and other opposition parties call for a Bharat Bandh? The opposition is responsible for 10 lives lost during the protest," Shah had said.

Assuring support to minorities, Shah had further said that the BJP government would neither remove reservation nor let anyone end it.

The government had also clarified that it was not a party to the Supreme Court decision on the Act and ‘respectfully’ did not agree with its reasoning behind the verdict.

(With ANI and PTI Inputs)