Nitish expedites pending cases as battle for Dalit votes intensifies - Hindustan Times
close_game
close_game

Nitish expedites pending cases as battle for Dalit votes intensifies

Hindustan Times, Patna | ByAnil Kumar | Edited by Abhinav Sahay
Sep 05, 2020 09:08 AM IST

HAM is attempting to counter balance LJP’s influence on Dalit votes as crucial Bihar assembly elections draw close.

As Hindustan Awam Morcha (HAM) supremo Jitan Ram Manjhi crosses swords with the chief of National Democratic Alliance (NDA) ally, Lok Janshakti Party (LJP)’s Chirag Paswan, to reposition himself as the real stalwart of Dalit politics in the state, Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar on Friday asked departmental secretary to expedite investigations in pending cases of atrocities against SC and STs and have them disposed, within a fortnight, by September 20.

Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar is under continuous attack from Dalit icon Ram Vilas Paswan’s LJP ahead of polls.(AP Photo)
Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar is under continuous attack from Dalit icon Ram Vilas Paswan’s LJP ahead of polls.(AP Photo)

Presiding over a meeting of the state-level vigilance and monitoring committee, constituted as part of the SC, ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1995, Nitish Kumar asked for speeding up the investigation process for time-bound disposal of all pending cases latest by September 20, as the government prepares to go in for state general elections with a positive report card on its “development with justice” agenda.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

The missive to SC, ST welfare department secretary Prem Kumar Meena comes at a time when battle lines are drawn between the opposition’s Grand Alliance and the NDA for a substantial slice of OBC vote bank, and, more particularly, for a larger pie of the Dalit vote bank, which accounts for 16% of total vote share, while LJP chief Chirag Paswan, an NDA ally, continues to take on the chief minister on law and order, migrants and Covid-19 fronts.

Former chief minister and HAM chief Jitan Ram Manjhi, who is still to become a part of the NDA but has struck an alliance with JD (U), has jumped in the fray in defense of the chief minister.

Manjhi has said that he would not only shield Kumar but also expose Chirag and senior Paswan (Ram Vilas) for doing precious little for the cause of Dalits. Paswans account for less than 6% of the Dalit votebank.

Notwithstanding Manjhi’s support, which many see as mere sabre rattling for getting honourably re-instated as the Dalit mascot in the NDA camp, JD (U) chief Nitish Kumar, who is on a spree to compensate the exit of Shyam Rajak and keep his “zero tolerance policy against caste, corruption and communalism (3Cs)” intact, has decided to send out a clear message that cases of atrocities under the SC, ST Act will not be condoned at any cost.

Also Read: Grand Alliance constituents set to contest Bihar assembly election on common agenda

Kumar also asked the department to immediately frame rules for providing a government job to one family member in the event of murder of a person of SC, ST community and also expedite the process for the appointment of public prosecutors by the law department to ensure cases are defended well at trial level.

The amendment in the SC, SCT (prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1995, by the NDA government had led to a countrywide hue and cry, with LJP chief Ram Vilas Paswan leading the protests. Dalits believed that the amendment had diluted the act.

Also Read: Bihar Assembly Election 2020: Incarcerated Lalu’s political meetings cause uproar

Following the protests, some of the amended provisions relating to arrest and punishment were restored, making the upper castes restive, who in turn, were placated with EWS (economically weaker section) quota at a later stage.

Kumar also directed the department secretary Prem Kumar Meena to ensure that the benefits of welfare schemes for SC and STs reached them and to also explore new measures for mainstreaming them.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Share this article
SHARE
Story Saved
Live Score
OPEN APP
Saved Articles
Following
My Reads
Sign out
New Delhi 0C
Tuesday, March 19, 2024
Start 14 Days Free Trial Subscribe Now
Follow Us On