Our government is all for SC and ST welfare, state governments told to maintain peace: Rajnath Singh

Rajnath Singh, while maintaining that his government is committed towards SC and ST communities, said that state governments are being provided assistance to maintain law and order.

New Delhi: Assuring that the Centre is working relentlessly for the welfare of people belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, Home Minister Rajnath Singh told Parliament on Tuesday that every possible assistance is being provided to states to maintain law and order.

Dalit groups across the country staged massive - and mostly violent - protests against the Supreme Court order 'diluting' the SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act. Rajnath Singh highlighted that a review petition has already been filed and that there is no reason for SC and ST communities to feel marginalised. "There has been no dilution to SC/ST Act by our government," he said even as opposition parties raised loud slogans in a bid to drown his voice. "We have worked to protect the rights of members belonging to SC and ST communities, and have brought about laws to punish culprits effectively. We are for the welfare of SC and ST communities. There should be no suspicion on the intention of the government. We have appealed to SC to begin the hearing of review petition at the earliest."

Incidents of violence have been reported from states like Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Bihar. Rajnath Singh has said that the Centre is helping these states maintain calm. "We are working with all state governments and are providing every assistance needed to maintain law and order, and peace."

The BJP veteran also said that there were rumours being spread about reservation and urged people and political parties to refrain from believing or spreading false information.