SC/ST Atrocities Act to stay; amendment can be considered: Ramdas Athawale

PUNE: The SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act would not be scrapped but suggestions for genuine amendment could be considered, Union Minister of State for Social Justice Ramdas Athawale today said here.

Referring to the "silent agitation" by Maratha community in Maharashtra demanding scrapping of the Act, Athawale, a prominent Dalit leader, said, "Let agitations take place, but under no circumstances the Act will be scrapped because with growing number of atrocities against Dalits in the country, the Act is needed."

He hastened to add that the atrocities against Dalits can not be attributed to a BJP or Congress government, but such incidents happen because some people, who are communal, want to create a rift in the society.

Athawale admitted that the Act was misused to some extent, and said he would personally see to it that this was stopped.

"The Act was formulated after serious deliberations in 1989 and if there are genuine amendments or suggestions, it will be taken into consideration," he said.

"I believe inter-caste marriages are the solution to bring about communal harmony. Our ministry is encouraging such marriages and people should come forward to encourage such things," said Athawale, who is the chief of Republican Party of India.

He said he had always backed demand of reservations for Marathas.

"Marathas in Maharashtra, Patels in Gujarat, Rajputs in Rajasthan and all non-SC and ST communities who are economically backward should get reservation, but Dalit reservation should not be touched," Athawale added.