The running war of words between the BJP and the Congress on the SC/ST Act controversy sharpened on Thursday with BJP president Amit Shah accusing his Congress counterpart Rahul Gandhi of lying about the SC/ST Act “to incite hatred in society”.
Along with his tweet, Shah posted a video of an undated speech by the Congress president in which he’s heard saying, among other things, that “the SC/ST Act has been scrapped”.
Shah tweeted saying Rahul “fictitiously revokes the SC/ST Act” in his address.
“lies and only lies! See how Rahul Gandhi fictitiously revokes the SC/ST Act to incite hatred in society,” says Shah’s tweet.
The BJP chief who has moved away from Karnataka where he was campaigning, to Odisha, shared a video where Rahul is heard telling people in a rally — probably in Karnataka — that “atrocities against Dalits and tribals are rising and the SC/ST Act is revoked. Narendra Modi ji does not say a word.”
A recent ruling by the Supreme Court on the Act, which, several Dalit groups say, has diluted the law, had triggered protests with the Opposition parties accusing the Government of being not quick enough to file a review petition. The Congress has even accused the BJP Government of being party to the court’s judgment.
On March 20, the Supreme Court, removed the provision of immediate arrest of anyone alleged to have harassed, abused or intimidated a Dalit or Adivasi person and added provision of preliminary inquiry and bail.
In its counter BJP has said the decision to file a review petition has been taken immediately after the apex court's decision on March 20 but due to holidays petition could not be filed immediately. The ruling party has charged the opposition with playing politics over the sensitive issue. At least 11 persons were killed in the violent protests during 'Bharat Bandh' called by Dalit groups on Monday against the court's ruling.
Shah had earlier held Congress and other opposition parties responsible for the death of people across the country that took place during the Bharat bandh protests.