In a significant move to woo Dalits before the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the Uttar Pradesh government has decided to withdraw the National Security Act (NSA) invoked against three Dalits, including Bhim Army founder Chandrashekhar alias Ravan.
According to sources, the government has instructed the district authorities of Saharanpur to revoke NSA against three Dalits, presently in jail and accused in a clash in May 2017, immediately.
Bhim Army sources also said that their top leader and legal aide were contacted by UP government on Thursday afternoon and given the information about withdrawal of NSA against three activist of the Bhim Army, including its president Ravan.
Bhim Army claims that following the August 19 protest demanding release of Ravan and others, they had met top leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party and UP Chief Minister and petitioned them to withdraw the NSA against their leaders.
According to the government, the detention of Ravan under NSA is till November 1, 2018 and of other two accused, Sonu and Shiv Kumar, till October 14 next. But after the government decision, all the three would be released soon.
Sources said the government considered the request of Ravan’s mother who appealed for the release her son.
After the May clash between Dalits and Thakurs, the Saharanpur district authorities had invoked NSA against six people. While Sonu, Sudhir and Vilas were let off on September 7 last, the remaining three — Ravan, Sonu and Shiv Kumar will be freed from NSA soon.
However the decision is seen as an attempt of the Yogi Adityanath government to reach out to the Dalits, particularly in western UP, before the 2019 Lok Sabha polls after amending the SC/ST Act to woo them.