The SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act would not be scrapped but suggestions for amendment could be considered, Union Minister of State for Social Justice Ramdas Athawale said on Saturday.
Referring to the “silent agitation” by the Maratha community in Maharashtra demanding scrapping of the Act, Mr. Athawale, a prominent Dalit leader, said, “Let agitations take place, but under no circumstances will the Act be scrapped because with growing number of atrocities against Dalits in the country the Act is needed.”
He said atrocities against Dalits cannot be attributed to a BJP or Congress regime, and such incidents happen because people who are communal want to create a rift in society. He admitted the Act was misused to some extent, and he would ensure this practice was stopped. He said he had always backed demand of reservations for Marathas.
