Bharat Bandh clashes: Yogi Adityanath calls for peace as violent protests erupt in western Uttar Pradesh

Lucknow: Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday appealed to the people not to vitiate law and order, amid reports of violence in parts of western Uttar Pradesh during the Bharat Bandh called by Dalit outfits against the Supreme Court court on the SC/ST Act.

“The law and order should not be disturbed by these protests. The government is serious towards the development and progress of Dalits. I appeal to them not to disturb the law and order,” Adityanath told reporters.

“Both the Centre and the state government are dedicated to the welfare of the backward castes, the scheduled castes and the scheduled tribes. If there is any issue, one can bring them to the notice of the government,” he said.

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There are reports of the violence in some western UP districts during the protests by Dalits.

The Supreme Court on 20 March had banned automatic arrests and registration of criminal cases under the Scheduled Castes (SC) and the Scheduled Tribes (ST) (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, a legislation meant to protect the marginalised communities from abuse and discrimination.

Ruling that no arrest can be made under the Act without prior permission, the apex court had also held that a court can grant anticipatory bail if it, prima facie, finds the complaint is an abuse of the law, false, motivated and intended to blackmail or harass a person.

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This was necessary, the court had said, to prevent the “rampant misuse of the tough provisions of the law.”