Caste Groups Begin Protest in MP, Demand Quota on Basis of Economic Status

Protests over the SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Amendment Bill, which was passed in Parliament last month to overthrow the Supreme Court’s March 20 verdict, have gripped Madhya Pradesh.

The newly formed anti-reservation organisation, SAPAKS Samaj Society (Samanya Pichhda Alpsankhayak Kalyan Samaj), and other upper caste groups like Rajpoot Karni Sena, Parsuram Sena and others have raised their voice against the proposed amendment in the SC/ST Bill, demanding reservation on economic background instead of caste.

Going a step further, upper caste groups have called for Bharat Bandh on September 6, and Madhya Pradesh’s Chambal and Gwalior regions have become the epicenter of the bandh.

Sensing the gravity of the matter and to prevent any misfortune like the April 2 incident, Madhya Pradesh police have imposed section 144 in the six districts – Bhind, Gwalior, Mandsaur, Morena, Datia, Chhatarpur and Sheopur districts.

In Ujjain, SAPAKS Samaj Society hung posters on walls and outside the homes of those against the Amendment Bill, and have appealed to the upper caste community to boycott SC/ST grocery stores and shops.

Chambal is the most sensitive area with upper caste members being dominant in the region. During another Bharat Bandh on April 2, 2018, which was called by the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes community against the SC’s March 20 verdict, eight dalits had been killed. The incident had put the state government on the back foot in the election year.

Samaj patron Hiralal Trivedi said, “It’s unfortunate that the government didn’t respect the Supreme Court’s order which mandated an inquiry before the arrest of any person facing charges under the SC/ST Act. It’s further unfortunate that none of the political parties have opposed the central government’s move for the sake of votes.”

He further said, “This bandh has been called just to show the strength of the upper caste community who were frightened by the government’s decision. We only have two demands- not to overturn the SC verdict given on SC/ST Atrocities Act 1989, and a revamp of the reservation system,” said a senior SAPAKS leader requesting anonymity. 

Security of Ministers, MPs and MLAs beefed up

To show their disappointment, people from upper caste groups have resorted to the targeting of legislators and ministers, demanding that reservation be rolled back and the checks introduced by the apex court be re-introduced. Madhya Pradesh has witnessed protests against the ruling party leaders at various places in the past few days.

On Tuesday, a leader of Rajpoot Karni Sena claimed that he had hurled shoes on Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan during a rally on Friday.

Moreover, on one occasion some people belonging to the upper caste groups, picked the BJP MP from Sindhi constituency, Riti Pathak from Shahdol district on Tuesday. Disappointed with the people’s behaviour, she had offered to cut her head with a sword.

Going a step further, a religious guru who also belongs to the upper caste, Devki Nandan Thakur has given an ultimatum to the union as well as state government on the reservation issue. Speaking in a public rally in Gwalior on Tuesday, he said, “If the union government doesn’t meet our demands on reservation within two months, then we will have to look for other options.”

On Sunday, a group of protesters under the banner of one Bharatiya Jan Yug Party, staged a demonstration at the bungalows of Union Minister Narendra Singh Tomar at Gwalior, and Member of Parliament Bhagirath Prasad at Bhind.

Another group of protesters made an attempt to picket minister Maya Singh during a programme on the campus of Jiwaji University, Gwalior on Sunday. While, on Saturday, those protesting against the bill staged a demonstration at higher education minister Jaibhan Singh Pawaiya’s bungalow at Gwalior.

Moreover, they showed black flags to union ministers Thawar Chand Gehlot and M.J. Akbar, when they were in the state to take part in programmes held to mark the inauguration of India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) at Guna and Vidisha, said police sources.

Following the above incidents, the police has tightened security arrangements for all the MPs and MLAs in Madhya Pradesh including central and state ministers, added the police sources.

Inspector General of Police (Intelligence) Makrand Deouskar said, “Instructions have been given to all the superintendents of police to ensure the security of all the MPs and MLAs.”

Speaking over the issue, state Congress spokesperson, Pankaj Chatruvedi said, “Whatever provisions there are as per the constitution should be complied with. There is no harm in dialogues within the framework of the constitution between people and their representatives, if any section of the farmers have any grudge over any issue.”

Meanwhile, the state BJP spokesperson, Rajneesh Agrawal said that the BJP is for protecting the interests of all sections of the society. “Whatever was done on the SC/ST Act was done only after consultation with all the political parties.”