BJP-RSS behind 'Bharat Bandh' against SC/ST Act: Mayawati

Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati on Friday dubbed that the `Bharat Bandh` called against the amendment to the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, was in fact "a conspiracy of the BJP" and an "event orchestrated by the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh" to divide the people on caste lines ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.

In a statement, she said the Bharatiya Janata Party is supporting such agitations to divert people's attention from "burning" issues such as fuel price hike.

Citing the example of her governments in Uttar Pradesh, former chief minister underlined how she ensured that the Act was not abused to harass anyone or any caste.

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"The BJP and the RSS are indulging in divisive politics as part of which agitations are being organised, especially in the BJP-ruled states, to oppose the amendments to the SC ST Act . It is nothing but an electoral conspiracy sponsored by the RSS and the BJP," she said in the statement. 

Some organisation had Thursday called the one-day bandh to protest against the amendment to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

Parliament had passed the amendment bill last month, overturning the Supreme Court order barring arrests without a preliminary inquiry to avoid false implication of innocent persons under the Act.