Dalits, OBCs rally for stronger SC/ST Act

Aurangabad: Dalits and OBCs stepped out in large numbers in Jalna and Beed, respectively, on Thursday for their demand of stricter implementation of the SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act in which the Marathas want some changes.
Nearly 90,000 participated in the Dalit rally organised in Jalna on Thursday. Observers said it was show of strength in the Marathwada region, which witnessed the maiden Maratha and Dalit rallies earlier this year.
One of the major demands of the participants of the Dalit rally in Jalna was strengthening and strict implementation of the SC and the ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The organising committee, in its press communique, also raised a few other demands. They have demanded setting up of a fast-track court for speedy justice in cases under the Atrocities Act and rape.
The committee, named as Sangharsha Shanti Morcha, began its rally from Shivaji Chowk at around 12.55pm. The rally culminated at the district collector’s office by 2.50pm after passing through different parts of the city.
Much like the method adopted by the organisers of the massive Maratha rallies, a group of girls handed over a memorandum of their demands to the local government authorities. The rally ended with the singing of the national anthem before the participants dispersed from the venue.
Jalna police said the rally went off smoothly and no untoward incident was reported. “A few traffic diversions were already announced for vehicular movement in the city areas in the wake of rally,” said S R More, who is attached with the police control room.
In Beed, the rally saw the participation of about 20,000 members of the OBC community. Organisers of both the rallies, however, claimed participation of lakhs. They raised the pitch for different demands for their community besides demanding speedy trail in Kopardi rape and murder case.
B D Sukale, police inspector attached with Beed city police station, said 700 personnel, including four platoons of Riot Control Force, were deployed during the OBC rally.
The rally started at around 1.15pm and concluded after two hours after traversing through different city areas. The security arrangements were very much similar to that provided during the Dalit rally took place on October 15, he said.
Leaders and party workers from the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), who were conspicuously present during the rally, also raised demand release of their party leader Chhagan Bhujbal, who is lodged in jail.

Subhash Raut, a local NCP leader considered as strong supporter of Bhujbal, said the senior OBC leader has been put behind bars by the ruling parties due to prejudice and personal enmity.
“Besides immediate release of Bhujbal, we demand caste-based census, implementation of recommendations of the Mandal Commission and resumption of scholarship for OBC students,” he said.
Raut claimed that about four lakh people took part in OBC rally at Beed, trashing the police estimates of 20,000 participants.

Source: The Times of India