Mumbai unaffected by Bharat Bandh called by Dalit groups protesting ‘dilution of SC/ST act’

Mumbai was largely unaffected by the 'Bharat Bandh' called by Dalit groups.  The Mumbai traffic police stated that traffic scenario was normal, while the local police are monitoring the situation to ensure that that there is no untoward incident.

On Monday, a spokesperson for the Mumbai Police said that the nationwide ‘Bharat Bandh’ failed to halt life in the Island City. A Mumbai Police spokesperson told DNA: “Bharath Bandh will not be affecting Mumbai. We have taken all the necessary precautions.” 

Rajiv Jain, DCP zone 5 told DNA that protesters had been denied permission to carry out a march from Kotwal Udyan to Chaityabhum in Dadar.

He said: “The protesters had given us an application asking for permission to carry out march from Kotwal Udyan to Chaityabhumi in Dadar today. However, we have denied them a permission and have them to protest at Azad Maidan. We have deployed sufficient policemen at all strategic locations and if anybody tried to protest, a legal action would be taken against him.”

Dalit organisations called for a nationwide bandh to protest the alleged dilution of SC\ST Act. The government is going to move a review petition in the Supreme Court today. RS Prasad, law minister said: “I wish to convey that today we've filed a petition on the judgement by Supreme Court on the SC/ST act. We have filed a comprehensive review petition which will be presented before the court by the senior lawyers of the government.”

Meanwhile, the situation remains tense in Punjab, where all shops will remain closed along with educational institutions. The CBSE has postponed all Class 12 and 10 exams scheduled for Monday in Punjab. Exams will be held as scheduled in Chandigarh and in the rest of the country.

The board said it has received a letter of request, dated April 1, 2018, from the director general (school education) of the Punjab government to postpone all its examinations scheduled to be held today on account of apprehensions of law and order problems and other disturbances in the day during the 'Bharat Bandh'.

The state government has also taken a decision to keep all schools shut for the day, the CBSE said referring to the letter of the state government.

"Taking congnisance of the letter of the director general (school education), the CBSE decided to postpone all class 12 and 10 examinations scheduled for April 2 , 2018 in the state of Punjab," it said in a statement issued late in the night.

"Exams will carry on as per schedule in UT of Chandigarh and rest of the country," it said.

The next date of the examinations in Punjab will be announced soon by the board, it added.

An official spokesperson of the Punjab government in Chandigarh said the public transport services across the state has been suspended in view of the bandh call.

The Supreme Court had on March 20 diluted the provisions of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, in a bid to protect honest public servants discharging bona fide duties from being blackmailed with false cases under the Act.

The apex court said government servants should not be arrested without prior sanction and private citizens too should be arrested only after an inquiry under the law.

But Dalit organisations, including the Dalit Shoshan Mukti Manch, and some political parties fear the dilution of the provisions might lead to increase in violence against Dalits.

With PTI inputs