In view of a bandh called by a number of Dalit organisations on 2 April to protest the alleged dilution of the SC/ST Act, the Punjab government has ordered a security clampdown as a precautionary measure, while the Army and paramilitary forces have been asked to be on standby.
Schools will remain shut and buses would be off the road on Monday, 2 April. CBSE board examination for Class 10 and Class 12 have been postponed to another date following the call for bandh in the state.
Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, on Sunday assured that a review petition will be filed by the government on Monday.
Further, Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi also expressed support for filing a review petition but questioned the government for not being able to present the case properly before the SC in the past. He said, “Of course a review petition (SC/ST protection act) should be filed and its the right of the Government, its a legal procedure. The basic question is to why they were unable to present the case properly before SC and lost, inquiry needed.”
All public and private transport will stay off the road during the bandh to prevent any untoward incident, the spokesperson said.
The orders were issued after Chief Minister Amarinder Singh reviewed the security arrangements with top police and administration officials on Sunday evening.
It was followed by a video conference involving the Chief Secretary, deputy commissioners and other senior officials of all districts, the spokesperson said in a statement.
Security forces conducted flag marches at some places in the state on 1 April as a precautionary measure.
Buses run by the Pepsu Road Transport Corporation (PRTC), Punjab Roadways, PunBus, and private operators would remain off the road during the bandh, the spokesperson said.
He specified that banks would also remain closed on Monday.
Likewise, all government, non-government/private, aided and recognized schools would also remain shut on Monday, 2 April.
Asking security forces to deal with an iron hand any attempt to disturb peace and harmony in Punjab, the chief minister appealed to the organisations, which have called the bandh to protest the alleged dilution of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, not to take the law into their own hands, obstruct transport movement or harass commuters.
The armed forces and the paramilitary will be on standby to render any assistance as needed, the spokesperson said, adding that the chief minister had directed the police to crackdown on anyone found trying to disrupt peace and harmony.
The chief minister also appealed to the protestors to ensure that the mortal remains of the Iraq victims, which are expected to arrive in Amritsar on Monday, are allowed to be transported to their native villages without any impediment.
He also directed the Punjab Police to provide security for the same along the route -- from the airport to the respective native villages of the victims.
Noting that the central government had already announced its decision to file a review petition against the Supreme Court order diluting the provisions of the SC/SC Act, the chief minister said the SC/ST communities should defer their protest till a final decision on the petition.
Meanwhile, the Department of Home Affairs, Justice and Jails has through a notification authorized all district magistrates to "declare any place to be a special jail under the Punjab Jail Manual in view of the bandh call".
The apex court had on 20 March diluted the provisions of the Act, in a bid to protect honest public servants discharging bona fide duties from being blackmailed with false cases under the Act.
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)