Widespread protest across Gujarat turned violent following incidences of stone pelting, forced closure of educational institutions and commercial establishments, road and rail blockade in wake of Bharat Bandh given by Dalit organisations to oppose apex court’s verdict on misuse of Prevention of Atrocities Act.
The protestors shouted slogans for dilution of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and observations made by Supreme Court. Unlike some parts of the country, there have been no reports of any loss of life in the state.
According to the police incidences of stopping vehicular traffic on highways occurred in different parts of the state by mobs, scuffle between crowds and police, disruption of train services, forcing closure of commercial establishments as well as suspension of several civic-run and state-run transport buses were reported.
In Ahmedabad Dalit leaders took out rallies to oppose Supreme Court’s decision. They lay roadblocks across many parts of the city by burning tyres. In view of precautionary measure, Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation decided to suspend Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) operations for Monday.
“Opposition Congress party is behind the chaos and playing low-level politics in the name of Dalits. Already the BJP-led NDA Government has filed review petition and hence there was no point of agitation against the government,” said Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani while talking to media persons after a function of State Government.
The State Chief Minister Vijay Rupani put the blame on Congress. “The Congress is playing politics in name of dalits and shedding crocodile tears. Everyone knows how they treated Dr Ambedkar when he was alive,” he said adding that the state was equipped to handle any situation and that the bandh has had limited success.
Dalit leader and independent MlA Jignesh Mevani who won from Vadgam constituency in North Gujarat with Congress support said that the observations of the apex court were against the spirit of Constitution. Mevani led a rally in Sarangpur area of Ahmedabad which turned out to be violent as mob pelted stones on policemen which forced the cops to use tear gas shells. Amid such chaos, a Dalit youth slit his hand near the statue of Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar in Sarangpur area.
large number of protestors believed to be Dalits came on the streets of different areas of Ahmedabad including Chand Kheda, Maninagar, Dani limbda, Naroda, Kalupur, Amraiwadi, Ambawadi, C G Road and Bapunagar and forcefully shut down commercial establishments. They even staged gherao near a local court and forced the authorities to close the gates of the court complex.
In the State Capital Gandhinagar, protestors assembled near GH-3 circle and tried to blockage traffic but instantly police took control of the situation and disperse the crowd. Agitators burned tyre on railway tracks between Bhavnagar and Botad and stopped a train for nearly half an hour. Similarly protestors gathered on railway tracks near Vadodara with a view to hamper rail traffic between Vadodara and Ahmedabad but the local administration failed their plan.
Reports of rallies, road-blocs and forceful closure of shops came from Rajkot, Junagadh, Jamnagar, Surat, Navsari and Bardoli. An angry mob attacked on a Government vehicle of Bhuj Mamalatdar in Bhuj town of Kutch district.