JK News Today
Jammu, April 02:
Following countryvide agitation of Scheduled caste and Scheduled Tribes, the National Conference’s SC/ST Cell on Monday staged demonstration at Raghunath Mandir Chowk here in protest against the alleged dilution of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Prevention of Atrocities Act, 1989 and assailed the BJP-led government at the Centre for not defending the law during the judicial process.
Led by former minister and Chairperson SC/ST Cell Babu Ram Pal, the protesters took out a march from Sher-e-Kashmir Bhavan and held protests in the Chowk to press their demand for seeking early review in the apex court and submission of a forceful counter in defence of the Act.
Babu Ram Pal, while addressing the workers at Sher-e-Kashmir Bhavan, expressed solidarity with the organizations fighting for just cause of the weaker sections of the society, especially Scheduled Castes and said every possible legal course should be adopted to defend the Act during the review petition. He expressed concern over harassment being caused to the peaceful protesters by making excessive use of force, saying peaceful protests were legitimate process to press genuine demands in a democracy.
Prominent among those who spoke on the occasion and participated in the protest march included Mr Qazi Jalal –Ud Din Ex-MLA, Sheikh Bashir Ahmed Provincial Secretary, Mohd Ayub Malik , Mr Ravi Dogra, Mr Abdul Gani Teli Co-Chairman OBC Cell, Mr Vijay Lochan Co- Chairman SC Cell, Mr Rakesh Singh Raka , Mr Farman Singh, Mr Rajinder Chanyal, Mr Sain Dass, Mr Sham Lal, Mr Charanjeet Singh Bhagat, Master Prem Nath, Mr Narinder Bhagat, Mr Ashok Teyagi, Mr Tariq Bhat, Mr Charan Dass, Mr Romesh Kumar , Mr Sat Paul, Mr Badur Lal, Mr Ashok Dogra, Mr Som Raj Taroch, Mr Subash Bhagat, Mr Devi Dayal Jogi, Mr Madan Lal, Mr Harbans Lal, Master Puran, Mr A.N Bhagat and others.
