Eight killed, several injured during Bharat Bandh

New Delhi: At least eight people were killed and several injured on Monday during the Bharat Bandh called by the Dalit organisations against the recent Supreme Court order over the SC/ST Act.
Five people died and many others were injured in Madhya Pradesh, while two killed in Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan also reported one death.
Two people were killed in Gwalior and one each in Morena and Bhind districts of Madhya Pradesh. Over a dozen people were injured in Gwalior. Besides, protesters vandalised several vehicles, tried to set shops afire and opened fire in Morena, Bhind and Gwalior.
The Union Home Ministry said it is monitoring the situation while Home Minister Rajnath Singh expressed “deep pain” by the acts of violence and “loss of precious lives”.
“The Govt. of India is committed to ensuring welfare of SC/STs and other weaker sections and also guaranteeing them full protection of law. The Govt. has already filed a review petition in the Supreme Court to maintain the SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act in its present form,” Mr Singh tweeted.
He appealed to all political parties to help in maintaining harmony among different sections of the society.
“I also appeal to the people, not to fall prey to rumours and false propaganda unleashed by mischievous elements,” Home Minister posted.
At various locals protestors blocked rail and road traffic and shops were also closed.
In Jharkhand over 750 people detained in Ranchi district. Reports of arson also came from Punjab.
The Opposition Congress held the Narendra Modi Government directly responsible for the weakening of the SC/St Act. ‘When the case on the SC/ST Act was going on in the Supreme court, the Centre did not make efforts to defend the stand of the Government in the court,” senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said.
BSP supremo Mayawati also blamed the government for not being able to handle the agitation.
CPI-M general secretary Sitaram Yechury tweeted saying, “From Rohith Vemula to Una flogging and destruction of Ambedkar statues, we have seen how this govt has dealt with issues pertaining to Dalits. RSS – BJP ideology has been the driving force in targeting of Dalits in this regime”.
The Congress president Rahul Gandhi had tweeted in the morning hours alleging that that it is in the ‘DNA of RSS/BJP’ to keep Dalits in the “lowest rung”, and those who oppose this, are violently suppressed.
Predictably, Mr Gandhi’s comments provoked strong reactions from the government and senior BJP leaders.
In many places, police opened fire to control the situation.
Hundreds of protesters carrying swords, sticks, baseball bats and flags forced shopkeepers and other establishments to shut down in several cities of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Delhi.