Withdraw cases filed during ‘Bharat Bandh’ in Rajasthan, MP: BSP's conditions for Congress

The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) on Monday set conditions for the Congress ahead of the Lok Sabha Election 2019, demanding the withdrawal of cases against its workers filed during the ‘Bharat bandh’ in April for SC/ST Act 1989 in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. “We demand that cases filed during the ‘Bharat band’ held on 2 April 2018 for SC/ST Act 1989 in Rajasthan & Madhya Pradesh be withdrawn. If these demands are not met, we'll reconsider our decision to give outside support to Congress,” the party said in an official statement.

On April 2, violence erupted in many states across India as protesters blocked trains, clashed with police and set fire to vehicles during a nationwide bandh against the alleged dilution of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Transport, mobile and internet services were hit in many states with over 100 trains getting affected due to protests, even as the Centre moved the Supreme Court seeking review of its recent judgment on the SC/ST Act, maintaining that the verdict will violate constitutional rights of these communities.

While some states had ordered the closure of educational institutions as a precautionary measure, incidents of arson, firing and vandalism were reported from MP, UP, Rajasthan, Bihar and Punjab, among other places.  At least nine people were killed and hundreds injured during the nationwide bandh. In Madhya Pradesh, at least six people had died, while two people died in Uttar Pradesh and one in Rajasthan.

On March 20, the Supreme Court had issued a slew of guidelines that would protect public servants and private individuals from arbitrary and immediate arrest under the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. According to the court’s directive, coercive action against public servants, accused of hostility towards the lower caste, can only be taken with written permission from their appointing authority. For private citizens accused of a similar crime, the arrest can be made only after the Senior Superintendent of Police concerned allows it.

(With agency inputs)