Congress will not allow change in SC/ST Act, slams centre

Lucknow, April 4: The Congress on Wednesday in many parts of Uttar Pradesh protested against the state and the Union government, alleging that the violence during the recent "Bharat Bandh" reflected their utter failure.

Party leaders also said that the Congress would not allow any amendment to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.

"It is sad that the Union government did not rise to the occasion and delayed the matter until it spun out of control, resulting in violence earlier this week, leaving nine persons dead, many others injured and property worth crores of rupees damaged and gutted," a Congress leaders said.

They further alleged that the amendment to the Act was brought through the apex court under a "well thought out political conspiracy" to deprive the SC and ST communities of their rights against suppression.