MP CM Chouhan to Issue Directive Against ‘Misuse’ of SC/ST Act

Chouhan’s announcement comes in view of upper-caste groups protesting across the state.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Thursday, 20 September, announced that a directive will be issued shortly to ensure that the amended SC/ST Act is not misused in the state.

Protests had erupted in the state against the Parliament clearing the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Bill, restoring some stringent provisions of the Act.

“The misuse of the (amended) SC/ST Act will not be allowed in Madhya Pradesh. Only after a thorough probe, a case will be registered under it. To this end, a directive will be issued shortly.”

Shivraj Singh Chouhan to Reporters, as quoted by PTI

Chouhan also took to Twitter to announce the same.

एमपी में नहीं होगा SC-ST ऐक्ट का दुरुपयोग, बिना जाँच के नहीं होगी गिरफ़्तारी।

— ShivrajSingh Chouhan (@ChouhanShivraj) September 20, 2018

Upper caste protesters on Thursday took out a rally from Ganesh Mandir near Habibganj Railway Station, and were on their way to CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan's residence, when the police stopped them midway.

Bramha Samagam Sawarna Jankalyan Samaj convener Prahlad Shukla told PTI that protesters lay down on the roads and shouted slogans against the amendments, adding that there was a minor scuffle between the police and some of the protesters. He claimed that several protesters managed to get to the gates of the BJP and Congress offices and waved black flags.

Meanwhile, Madhya Pradesh Congress leader Bhupendra Gupta said Chouhan’s announcement “exposed the double standards of the BJP”, since two years ago Chouhan had said that his government had favoured reservation in promotions, the The Indian Express reported.

A nationwide bandh called on 6 September by some upper caste gropus against the restoration of some of the provisions of the SC/ST Act had met with a good response in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh.

Chouhan has also been targeted by some elements from these groups. On 2 September, an organisation opposing these amendments had created ruckus at his public rally in the state's Sidhi district.

(With inputs from PTI, The Indian Express)