Dalit protests: CBSE Class 10, 12 exams in Punjab postponed
The CBSE Class 10 and 12 exams scheduled for today in Punjab have been postponed due to 'Bharat Bandh' called by Dalit organizations. It will go on as scheduled in Chandigarh and rest of India, the Board said, adding the new date for the postponed exam will be announced soon. The government has meanwhile kept army and paramilitary forces on standby to prevent violence.
Public transport, schools, banks to remain closed today
The CBSE quoted a letter from the Punjab director general (school education) requesting postponement of the exams due to possible law and order problems. The state government has also declared all schools shut. Mobile services have been suspended till 11pm today. Public transport including buses and taxis won't ply. The bodies of the Indians killed in Iraq by ISIS are also reaching Amritsar today.
Days ago, the SC tightened conditions under SC/ST Atrocities Act
On March 20, the SC barred automatic arrest and registration of cases in alleged cases of harassment of SCs and STs under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities Act) 1989. Arrest of government servants now needs prior sanction, and private citizens can only be arrested after inquiry. The purpose, it said, was to protect honest public servants from being blackmailed with false cases.
"Dilution" will increase caste-based violence, Dalit groups allege
Dalit groups, who allege the "dilution" of the Act will increase caste-based violence, have launched protests in different states. In Odisha, they blocked railway tracks. In Mumbai, Dalit groups and Left activists have planned a protest march.
Government to seek review of the SC's order
The Bharat Bandh comes on the same day the Center files a petition in the SC seeking review of its order. Congress Chief Rahul Gandhi, who led a group of opposition parties to meet the president on the issue, said Ram Nath Kovind was "quite positive and supportive." At 32% of its 2.8cr-strong population, Punjab has the highest population of Dalits in India.
