Mevani also says that the BJP filed a review petition in the SC only after the show of strength by the Dalits on the streets
Dalit leader and Vadgam MLA Jignesh Mevani called the Supreme Court's observations in the SC/ST (Atrocities) Act "an act of judicial atrocity."
"The observations of the honourable Supreme Court in connection with the SC/ST (Atrocities Act), is an act of judicial atrocity committee against the Dalits of this country," Mevani said while speaking at a seminar held in the city on Sunday.
Mevani was among various other speakers at the seminar 'The Supreme Court's Judgment on the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities Act): Understanding its implications and forging the path ahead.'
"An FIR was registered against me in Karnataka for asking people to throw chairs (khursi uchhalo) in a Modi rally. An FIR can be registered against me for just uttering those words but when atrocities are committed against Dalits, abuses hurled at them, no case is lodged. This alone shows what is wrong with our democracy and our judiciary," said Mevani.
He challenged the BJP government at the Centre to bring an ordinance, the way Rajiv Gandhi's Congress government did for the Shah Bano verdict, if it were to lose the review petition in the Supreme Court on the Atrocities Act matter.
"I challenge the BJP government to ensure that efforts at declawing the atrocities Act be stopped. In fact, we are giving them time till April 14 to announce that they will bring an ordinance if they were to lose the review petition in the SC," said Mevani.
He said if the BJP government failed to make an announcement by then, Dalits across the country will ensure that no BJP leader is allowed to garland the statue of Babasaheb.
Mevani also said that the BJP filed a review petition in the SC only after the show of strength by the Dalits on the streets.
Mevani also announced a highway roko agitation on the Samakhiali highway near Kutch on April 14 to ensure that the land demand of dalits are met. "The land was given to them some two decades ago but they are yet to get possession of it," said Mevani.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Jignesh Mevani")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}