The Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis, made it clear today that the Atrocities (Prevention) Act will stay despite the demand from the Maratha community to repeal it as it it allegedly being misused.

The CM was addressing the huge gathering at ‘Deekshabhoomi’ on 60th Dhamma Chakra Pravartan Day which marks the mass conversion to Buddhism by Dr. B. R. Ambedkar and his followers in 1956.

Fadnavis said that there is a strong demand from the Maratha community to repeal the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, but the act will stay. He said that a true follower of Ambedkar will not indulge in such misuse and hence there was no need for Maratha community or any other community to fear its misuse.

Along with the Chief Minister, Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari, Bihar Governor Ramnath Kovind and Dalit leader and Union Minister of State for Social Justice Ramdas Athawle were also present.

In the increasing Maratha agitation in the state, the Maratha community is demanding to take strong action against the accused in the Kopardi rape and murder case and to give reservation to the Maratha community in education and public services.

The Maratha community is also agitating against the SC, ST Atrocities (Prevention) Act as they have alleged that the act is being misused against the Maratha and other community by the Dalits.

Although Devendra Fadnavis said that the Atrocities Act will stay, it is jurisdiction of the Center to abolish or sustain the Atrocities (Prevention) Act for the SC, ST community.

By Prajakt K