He also urged people put forward amendments in the present Act and said that their suggestions would be considered.
Appealing NCP President Sharad Pawar to take the lead in bringing the Maratha community and Dalits together, Union Minister of state for Social Justice Ramdas Athavale on Saturday said that if he and Pawar come together, the rift between Marathas and Dalits would be done away with.
Talking about the SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, he stated that the Act would not be removed at any cost, but amendments could be done if needed. Speaking at a program by Pune Union of Working Journalists, Athavale who is the chief of the Republican Party of India, said that the government would take necessary measures to ensure that there is no misuse of the Act.
Referring to the massive marches in various cities by the Maratha community, he said that the time has come for Marathas and Dalits to come together. Lakhs of people from the Maratha community have been staging silent marches in various cities after the Kopardi rape and murder incident. Leaders from various parties who hail from the Maratha community have pointed out that issues like Maratha reservation and misuse of the SC/ST Atrocities Act need to be addressed.
However, stressing on the need of the Act, Athavale said that it was a reality that even today there are atrocities committed against the Dalits.
Athavale said that there is a need for providing 25% reservation to Marathas, Patels, Jats, Rajput, Brahmins and Lingayats. He added that even though Courts have every right to make their observations and express their opinions, it was the Parliament which has Constitutional duty of enacting legislation. He said that if such reservations are provided without affecting the original reservations provided, it would bridge the gap between communities.
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