Bharat Bandh over SC/ST act: At least 5 killed; constantly monitoring situation, says MHA

Five people were killed in Madhya Pradesh and one in Rajasthan in the wake of the nationwide shutdown call given by Dalits that are protesting against the Supreme Court verdict on the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

Meanwhile, in the face of stiff pressure from both within the NDA and opposition, Union Law Ministry has decided to file a review petition in the Supreme Court on the Schedule Caste and Schedule Tribe Prevention of Atrocities Act verdict. Deependra Pathak, Spokesperson, Delhi Police on Bharat Bandh over SC/ST protection act said,''Delhi Police is alert. We have adequate police deployment at places & senior officials are also present in the field. All steps will be taken to maintain law & order.'' "One can understand if people are protesting but why are opposition parties playing politics? Parties like Congress, who did not give the Bharat Ratna to BR Ambedkar, are now acting like his followers," says union minister Ram Vilas Paswan. MHA closely monitoring the situation and is in constant touch with states; central forces made available: Ministry spokesperson.

States asked to take preventive steps and maintain public order to ensure safety of lives and property: Home ministry on Dalit agitation. Centre rushes 800 anti-riot policemen to Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh Two companies of Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel have been sent to Meerut, one company each to Agra and Hapur (all in UP) and two companies each have been sent to Bhopal and Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh. A company of RAF comprises around 100 personnel. Mobile internet services are down in Amritsar and other parts of Punjab as Home Minister Rajnath Singh has called for peace. "We have filed a review petition in the Supreme Court. I appeal to all political parties to cooperate so that no untoward incident takes place due to protest," said Rajnath. News agency ANI is reporting that one person has died in Morena and curfew has been imposed in the area. Section 144 has also been imposed in parts of Gwalior and Sagar in Madhya Pradesh. Speaking on the issue, UP CM Yogi Adityanath said,''Law & order should not get disturbed with these protests.

Our government is serious about Dalits' progress and their development. I appeal to them to take care of the law and order.'' "We were not part of the initial Supreme Court judgment. We have come up with a strong, comprehensive review petition and filed it in the apex court. "We, the government, do not agree with the judgment of the Supreme Court. We are committed to the Dalits. We want Dalits to progress and we are at their service," says Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad. Meanwhile, Congress Rahul Gandhi tweeted,"Keeping Dalits at the bottom of the society is in the RSS/BJP's DNA. Those who challenge this thinking, they suppress them with violence. Thousands of Dalit siblings are now on the streets demanding protection of their rights from the Modi government. We salute them."