Chandigarh: National Scheduled Castes Alliance (NSCA) called out the government in the center led by PM Narendra Modi on his seemingly intentional misuse of SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act dilution proposed by the Supreme Court as a tool to stir the emotions of the Scheduled Castes community and as an issue for the general elections slated to be held next year.
“Modi Government is Anti-Scheduled Castes, it only knows how to play the Dalit card” echoed the members of the National Scheduled Castes Alliance, a socio-political organization championing the cause of the Scheduled Castes community in Punjab.
Interacting with the press at the Chandigarh Press Club, Paramjit Singh Kainth, President of the NSCA accused the Narendra Modi led BJP Govt. responsible for the deteriorating and volatile situation between the Scheduled Castes community and the society and also the crumbling state of law & order in the nation, especially states with higher Scheduled Castes population. NSCA would demonstrate its protest by submitting memorandum of demand to Prime Minister Narendra Modi through the Divisional Commissioner of Ropar on 18th May.
He said “BJP had been insulting the Scheduled Castes community for a long time and the situation was getting out of control. Violence, social boycott, crime, polarization, discrimination etc are all synonymous to the acts and policies of the BJP government for the Scheduled Castes community in India. If the BJP government had acted swiftly or at least presented its case against the March 20th decision of the Hon’ble Supreme Court with great vigor and interest, the situation would not had been so grim and unruly. In terms of protecting the rights and aiming for the welfare of the scheduled castes community, this government’s track record has been dismal to say the least and the way it is trying to bundle
up issues to project in the upcoming General Elections next year, clearly portrays the mindset of the BJP and its tendency to play the Dalit card to woo the voters.”
Kainth further stated that “Reservation for the Scheduled Castes community is such an important issue for the people belonging to this community and also The Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 also plays a pivotal role to safeguard and provide justice to the people. BJP and RSS are trying to push these issues again and again in the limelight to stir up the emotions of the people; National Scheduled Castes Alliance will not allow BJP-RSS to make a mockery of issues dear to the community. Our protests start from 18th May and will continue further regularly.”
The National Scheduled Castes Alliance demanded that the Minister of Law and Justice should immediately tender his resignation on the grounds of not being able to deliver justice to the victims of heinous crimes belonging to the Scheduled Castes community.
Questioning the intention of the Central Government to properly implement the Schemes related to welfare of the SC community, Kainth also pointed out to the inefficiency of the State Government in Punjab for being unable implement Post Metric Scholarship, Scheduled Castes Sub Plan and Stand UP India Schemes.
General Secretary of the Aam Aadmi Party, Palwinder Kaur Hareayu today resigned from the party stating lack of interest from the party towards the plight of the Scheduled Castes community in Punjab. She said “the AAP lacks any real motive and plan to work for the welfare of the SC community; this is one of their least concerned domains. There have been numerous instances of rape, assault, murder against the SC women in the State but no one from any of the political parties has been raising their voices against it except the National Scheduled Castes Alliance. No one in the party hierarchy of AAP has any program for the social empowerment of the community. There were many restrictions and hence, I decided to join the NSCA under the leadership of Paramjit Singh Kainth to raise our voices against the injustice and discrimination met with by the Scheduled Castes Community.” She was appointed as the President of the Women Wing at the event.
Paramjit Singh Kainth, President of the Alliance further stated that there is a crisis in Punjab today. He said “The Captain Amrinder Singh led government and its ministers/leaders are getting involved in controversy each day, there has been no concerned effort by the government to provide justice and relief to the rape victims and victims of criminal brutality belonging to the Scheduled Castes community. The state of affairs is abysmal and only beacon of hope for the community is stand united and raise our voices.”
Kainth welcomed the leaders who joined the National Scheduled Castes Alliance and also expanded the organization by appointed Gurlal Singh and Raminder Singh as Youth Wing President and General Secretary of the NSCA, respectively. He said “this is just the beginning, leaders with a common objective and enlightened approach are contacting the NSCA every day and more are slated to join in the coming days. NSCA provides the platform for these leaders to raise their voices against what is wrong, Political parties do not allow such rebellions. It requires courage and strength to leave your party but it is a decision which is for the welfare of the community and also to unite our voices for justice.”