Done nothing to dilute SC/ST Act: Rajnath Singh on Dalit protests

Home Minister Rajnath Singh spoke on Monday's Dalit protests and violence across the country in Parliament today and appealed to all citizens to maintain peace.

Rajnath Singh clarified that the government had done "nothing to dilute the SC/ST Act", in fact, it wasstrengthening it he said.

"Through the House, I want to assure the people that there has been no dilution whatsoever by my government, rather after coming to power and examining the SC/ST prevention Atrocities Act, we have taken a decision to strengthen it," he said.

The home minister said that the government had filed areview petition on April 2, within six days of the SC/ST order.

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Making a suo motu statement in the Lok Sabha during Zero Hour on the large-scale violence during yesterday's Bharat Bandh, the home minister said eight people were killed -- six in Madhya Pradesh and one each in Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, during the bandh which also witnessed clashes between the police and the protesters.

There were large-scale protests in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan over the alleged dilution of the SC/ST Act by the government. At least 10 people had died in the violence on Monday.

Rajnath Singh also urged all parties in the Lok Sabha to maintain peace in the aftermath of violence over the Supreme Court order on the SC/ST Act.

As the home minister was speaking, MPs continued to protest over the Cauvery issue leading the Lok Sabha Speaker to adjourn the House till Wednesday.