The Lucknow protest was part of the all-India bandh call given by several Dalit organizations and political parties.
Ghazanfar Abbas | Caravan Daily
LUCKNOW: Thousands of Dalits held a protest demonstration here on Monday against the recent judgment of the Supreme Court effectively diluting the SC/ST Act 1989.
Under the banner of various social and Dalit groups, people from different parts of the state gathered at the Ambedkar Park near the Assembly building.
The Lucknow protest was part of the all-India bandh call given by several Dalit organizations and political parties.
“The central government is cheating with us. We demand it to resume the Act as it was,” demanded another protester.
Among the crowd were men and women and young and old.
“Due to the changes done by Supreme Court in SC/ST Act, it will be very difficult to file a case in such matters of atrocities and no arrest will made. Despite this Act it has been observed that 66% such criminal cases have increased from 2007 to 2017,” former IG SR Darapuri said while talking to Caravan Daily here.
“This judgement came with an excuse that cases are logged on fake allegations but in 69% of rape cases, charge sheets have been filed. So how it can be said that all cases are fake?” he questioned.
“While if someone file any false case/complaint, the complainant can be punished under section 192 of the Act,” he added.
“There are very few people who are able to complain in cases of atrocities against Dalits,” said a woman protester.
